Alcatel-Lucent's new processor increases speeds by four, reduces power by 50%

Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) introduced a network processor that improves performance four times above the fastest Internet Protocol networks available today. The company’s FP3 processor can handle 70,000 simultaneous high-definition video streams on a single chip, making it suited for fourth-generation networks and for mobile backhaul on 2G and 3G networks, as well as residential and business services running over IP networks, the company said.
Today’s networks are under pressure to deliver content like never before, said Houman Modarres, senior director, product marketing, for Alcatel-Lucent’s IP business. Video is expected to be about 70% of network traffic by 2014. Bandwidth demands are doubling every two to three years.
The FP3 processor is designed to meet those needs, allowing operators to offer new services reliably. “The fundamentals are addressed … policy, app awareness, app integrity,” Modarres said. The processor also cuts power consumption by up to 50%.
“It’s not all about consumption. It’s clear wireless operators have to be able to create additional value for their customers,” Modarres noted. “Networks must be faster, smarter and more sustainable.”
This is the third time Alcatel-Lucent has made generational advances in network processors. The company introduced a 10 Gigabit per second processor in 2003 and a 100 GB/S processor in 2008.
The chip is being demonstrated today and expected to be commercially available in Alcatel-Lucent’s service router portfolio next year.
The announcement is good news for operators try to gain more cloud-based business. “We see no end to our customers’ insatiable demand for bandwidth, especially on our Ethernet platform. As cloud-based services emerge and rich multimedia services proliferate, this type of technology can help us provide the best quality of service at even higher speeds,” said Karl Penaluna, president of global networks and computing infrastructure at BT, in a prepared statement.
Alcatel-Lucent is working with semiconductor partners including Samsung Semiconductor, NetLogic Microsystems, Micron, GSI Technology, Cypress and Broadcom to deliver complementary components that support the transition to the faster processor.