Date: 25/10/2010

Sigma Designs boasts about its tech behind two comm products

Sigma Designs has reported that Comtrend's HomePlug AV with ClearPath Ethernet to powerline bridge employs Sigma's ClearPath technology". HomePlug AV offers MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) features to lead in performance over any other powerline technology currently available.

The release from Sigma says "Noisy" networks are an ongoing issue with performance over powerline communications, with ClearPath technology, the new Comtrend bridges easily support distribution of multiple HDTV streams in these noisy powerline environments and extend the coverage to rooms located far from the video source.
The noise creators include Mobile phone chargers, compact fluorescent lights, and other everyday items.

"We were very impressed with Sigma's ClearPath technology," said Robert Yao, vice president of product management at Comtrend. "Once we got it into our labs, we used various noise interfering devices to create a very hostile user environment to verify the ClearPath technology. The results were second to none. A true statement to Sigma's engineering strength."

"Comtrend is a leading-edge Taiwanese company making products for the connected home market," said Gabi Hilevitz, vice president and general manager of Sigma Designs' Home Connectivity Group. "The level of test and development they put into their product line combined with their vendor selection shows their commitment to creating solid products for home networking."

Sigma's powerline MIMO technology has been designed to fully comply with the recently ratified G.hn specifications. The solution will be on display at Broadband World Forum in Paris, France in booth D7 from October 26 - October 28, 2010.

Sigma Designs has also announced that its HomePNA technology is being used by Brazillian MSO, NET Angra to provide broadband services to the entire Angra dos Reis region of Brazil.

"Our customers were very interested in advanced IP services like VoIP and IPTV but many of the solutions we evaluated didn't deliver the return on investment we needed to justify a deployment," said Glauco Reis, general manager and CEO of NET Angra. "Sigma's HomePNA solution enabled us to grow the service in order to meet market demand and use our existing infrastructure to do so. This meant simpler installations, lower installation costs, fewer support calls, fewer customer complaints, and less customer turnover."

NET Angra chose Sigma's HomePNA-based chipset because it uses the existing coaxial cable infrastructure and therefore reduces the costs of deploying advanced IP services. Alternative solutions would require adding expensive cable modem termination systems (CMTSs) as well as replacing many network elements, from cables to amplifiers.

It is reported that HomePNA offers a solution with quality of service (QoS), remote management, and diagnostic capabilities that facilitate the installation and maintenance of the system. This lets service providers deploy reliable cutting-edge services, like triple play, while minimizing operation expenditures.

"Together, NET Angra and Sigma are giving the people of Angra dos Reis access to some of the most advanced communications technologies in the world," said Gabi Hilevitz, vice president and general manager, Home Connectivity Group of Sigma Designs. "Providing high quality broadband services over existing fiber and coaxial cable has enabled the region's coastal population to better enjoy the benefits of high-performance broadband, IPTV, and VoIP."