Freescale QorIQ T1 Family Processors Enable Performance-Leading Ethernet over Legacy Cable for Next Generation Network Platforms

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Freescale Semiconductor FSL today announced that its 28-nm QorIQ T1 family multicore communications processors are the first embedded System on Chips (SoCs) to demonstrate interoperability with the newly unveiled Aquantia AQrate 2.5 and 5 Gbps Ethernet PHY products.

This breakthrough in Ethernet performance over existing Category 5e twisted pair copper cabling means customers for next generation Ethernet switches and appliances, WLAN access points, wireless LAN controllers, small cells and other applications will not incur the added cost of installing updated cable or using multiple twisted pair links to support increased network traffic demands that are pushing data rates beyond today's 1 Gbps network uplinks.

“It's clear the demand for higher speed Ethernet will boom over the next several years. For example, in 2015 the market for new 802.11ac enabled access will take off, driving wireless access point backhaul bandwidth well above 1 Gbps. And by 2018, we expect to see more than 20 million new 802.11ac access points shipping each year,” said Matthias Machowinski, Directing Analyst for Enterprise Networks at Infonetics Research. “New technologies such as the 2.5 and 5 Gbps Ethernet that Freescale and Aquantia have demonstrated will help network managers bridge the gap between wired and wireless access network performance.”

Freescale's QorIQ T1 family processors integrate between one and four cores and are designed to deliver two to four times the performance of existing, similar-class devices for 5 to 8 Gbps IP forwarding, all within a low power envelope and housed in cost-effective packaging. These QorIQ T1 series multicore processors offer options supporting 1G, 2.5G, 5G and 10G interfaces, as well as a proven protocol offload engine that delivers the higher bandwidth encrypted tunnels that enterprise and wireless customers require.

“We are extremely excited to demonstrate this new level of AQrate PHY performance over common CAT5e with the popular Freescale QorIQ T1 processors,” said Kamal Dalmia, VP Sales & Marketing at Aquantia. “This interoperability proof point with an embedded market leader like Freescale gives confidence to OEM equipment designers as they plan to support 2.5 and 5 Gbps Ethernet-ready systems.”

Aquantia's AQrate PHY combines 2.5 GbE and 5 GbE, as well as IEEE-compliant 10GBASE-T, 1000BASE-T (1GbE), and 100BASE-TX (100MbE) for transmission over up to 100m of twisted pair cabling. The AQrate PHY family integrates such features as Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE), 1588v2, MACsec and supports all PoE standards up to 60 W.

About Freescale Semiconductor

Freescale Semiconductor FSL is a global leader in embedded processing solutions, providing industry-leading products that are advancing the automotive, consumer, industrial and networking markets. From microprocessors and microcontrollers to sensors, analog integrated circuits and connectivity – our technologies are the foundation for the innovations that make our world greener, safer, healthier and more connected. Some of our key applications and end markets include automotive safety, hybrid and all-electric vehicles, next-generation wireless infrastructure, smart energy management, portable medical devices, consumer appliances and smart mobile devices. The company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing and sales operations around the world. www.freescale.com

Freescale, the Freescale logo and QorIQ are trademarks of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © 2014 Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.