IBM licenses Jennic ATM technology

SHEFFIELD, UK – March 24, 2003 – Jennic, a leading supplier of system-level cores (IP) and silicon design services today announced that IBM, the world’s leading ASIC supplier, has entered into a license agreement for Jennic ATM IP. IBM plans to offer Jennic’s cores as part of its ASIC library, available to IBM’s ASIC customers for a broad range of network access, edge and core applications including wireless infrastructure equipment. Jennic also plans to provide services to IBM and its customers for any customisations to the Jennic IP.

The agreement covers Jennic's range of ATM cores including its AAL5 SAR (segmentation and reassembly engine), AAL1/2 coprocessors and software device drivers. The cores are being specifically tuned to IBM technology, including the use of the Core Connect bus interface allowing a PowerPC processor subsystem, such as a control plane processor, to be developed.

Jim Lindop, CEO of Jennic, stated "I am delighted to see IBM utilise Jennic ATM technology in its rollout of ASIC cores to suit the telecommunications companies. This agreement provides customers with silicon-proven IP and also the flexibility to tune the IP to their specific needs. The IBM relationship is a testament to Jennic's portfolio of ATM cores, our reputation and the quality of service we provide to our customers." Jennic's range of IP has been designed specifically for integration in complex SoC designs and are implemented in silicon by a number of semiconductor and telecommunication companies. ATM still pervades the telecommunications and internet infrastructure and is required in new designs for a combination of upgrading legacy equipment and emerging technologies such as 3G basestations and DSL networks.

"We're seeing a growing requirement for ATM technology in our business and believe Jennic’s products and capabilities will assist us in meeting our customers’ needs,” said Tom Reeves, Vice President ASIC product group, IBM Microelectronics. Jennic has been a member of IBM’s Blue Logic program since shortly after its inception and over the past years has completed several successful customer projects using IBM’s processes.

About Jennic
Jennic is a leading provider of System Level Intellectual Property and silicon design services to the broadband communications market. Jennic combines its systems expertise, advanced Intellectual Property portfolios and skills in digital, software, Mixed Signal and SoC design to deliver performance, cost and time-to-market advantages to its system OEM and semiconductor customers. Jennic’s Intellectual Property portfolio includes intelligent physical layer framers and high speed interfaces for wide and metropolitan area networks, ATM SAR Engines for broadband access networks and mixed signal systems based on a library of mixed signal modules.

Founded in 1996 Jennic has its headquarters in Sheffield, England.