Pass the packet

In the early days of the internet, access was via dial up modems. Data rates were slow, but the information that was being downloaded was predominantly text based. As the web developed, content became more complex and users demanded – and have become accustomed to – much higher data rates, courtesy of the various flavours of dsl. But now there are new communications buzzwords appearing – triple play and fibre to the home (ftth). Triple play – the combination of voice, video and data – over the same line is placing increasingly rigorous demands on developers of communications systems and on those developing the packet processors which move data around the world. Dror Salee has been involved in developing ftth technology with Passave Technologies. Now, following its recent acquisition by PMC-Sierra, he’s the latter’s director of strategic marketing. He pointed out that communications is all about data. “Even voice calls sit on top of data communications,” he continued. “And that means it’s become an Ethernet IP world.”