Altera

Network operators continue to invest in upgrading their access networks to improve delivery of high-bandwidth services. This investment has stimulated innovation throughout the supply chain to support the bandwidth, reliability, and scalability necessary for the continuing evolution of networks. Innovative markets, such as today's communications access market, tend to value technologies that can accelerate time-to-market while also adapting to changing requirements.

Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) have been at the forefront of the rollout of multi-service access node (MSAN) equipment. This white paper discusses the evolution of access networks, the requirements for MSAN equipment, and the trend of access equipment manufacturers utilizing FPGAs to build custom solutions.