for Next-Generation Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH)

SINGAPORE, 20 AUGUST 2009

Aztech, and the A*STAR Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R) will be collaborating on R&D to

develop a 2.5Gbps Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) system for the Next Generation

Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) Network.

Aztech’s 23 years experience in designing, developing and selling broadband and home

networking products such as xDSL modems and powerline ethernet adaptors (HomePlugs)

complements I

collaboration will create opportunities for the development of novel GPON products. The joint

collaboration will be carried out over a period of nine months at Aztech and A*STAR.

GPON is the next-generation technology after xDSL and offers ultra-high speed to a large

number of subscribers. The device to support GPON is the Optical Network Terminal (ONT),

which will be developed to support intensive high-bandwidth media applications (Triple Play

services) such as Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), high speed Internet and telephone

service over a single Fibre Internet connection. The ONT can be customised for Aztech’s

customers, mainly Telcos in North America and Europe who have started to deploy FTTH.

As part of the collaboration, Aztech will have the opportunity to engage in live testing of the

ONT device by utilizing the Fusion Light testbed at A*STAR. The Fusion Light network

infrastructure comprises of single mode optical fibers that extend from I²R’s data center, and

has the ability to simulate a commercially deployed optical metro and access network, thereby

allowing realistic testing for the ONT.– Singapore home broadband and networking brand,2R’s strengths in optical fiber networking research. This synergistic

Commented Michael Mun, Group CEO and President of Aztech Electronics, “We are

honoured to partner the Institute for Infocomm Research of A*STAR, a Singapore-based,

world-class science, technology and research agency which has some of the world’s best

talent to engage in cutting-edge research and technologies. In addition, with the increasing

need of working and interacting on an ultra high-speed fibre network, Aztech has decided to

embark on the GPON ONT project to keep in line with the Next Generation Fibre-To-The-

Home deployment. This will enhance our core capabilities in broadband and home networking

products.”

Professor Lye Kin Mun, Deputy Executive Director (Research) said, ”I²R is thrilled to have

Aztech as our valued partner on the GPON ONT project. This partnership further

demonstrates that I²R develops technologies that are in demand from our industry partners

and we look forward to commercial success from this collaboration. With more intensive highbandwidth

media applications being adopted for mainstream usage, this is a promising area to

be involved in research and development. Going forward, we hope to have more of such