Microchip Technology has announced a new range of Optical Ethernet PHY transceivers designed to meet the growing need for advanced networking in industrial, commercial, and remote infrastructure environments. The new products are available in 10 Gbps and 25 Gbps versions and feature IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) as well as Media Access Control Security (MACsec) encryption.
The transceivers offer an alternative to copper-based Ethernet by supporting link lengths up to 10 kilometers over single-mode fiber. This allows deployment across large areas such as campuses or warehouses. With PTP time stamping, the devices can achieve synchronization accuracy of less than one nanosecond, which is necessary for applications like industrial automation, telecommunications, and robotics.
Charlie Forni, corporate vice president of Microchip’s networking and connectivity solutions business, stated: “Design engineers are looking for solutions that simplify complex networking systems, adding PTP or MACsec could mean a complete overhaul of an existing design, our solution helps preserve our customers’ core-processing investment. We’ve integrated these capabilities into our transceivers, enabling bolt-on functionality to help engineers build smarter, more secure and scalable networks.”
The product line supports Ethernet speeds from 1 Gbps up to 25 Gbps. It allows network designers to select data rates and media types—optical or direct attach copper—to suit their application needs.
Security is implemented at the silicon level with MACsec (IEEE 802.1AE) encryption. This hardware-based approach protects against network breaches by encrypting traffic between Ethernet devices. According to Microchip, MACsec is designed to defend against cyberattacks such as man-in-the-middle attacks, denial-of-service attacks, eavesdropping, and spoofing.
The new Optical Ethernet PHY Transceiver variants include:
– LAN826x series supporting up to 10 Gbps with dual-port and quad-port options featuring combinations of PTP and MACsec.
– LAN802x and LAN804x series supporting up to 25 Gbps with similar dual-port and quad-port configurations.
Microchip offers a broad portfolio of Ethernet solutions ranging from transceivers to high port-count switches at speeds from 10 Mbps to 25 Gbps. The company also provides Single Pair Ethernet devices for various markets including industrial, automotive, embedded systems, communications, aerospace, defense, consumer electronics, and computing.
To support development efforts with these new transceivers, Microchip has released the LAN8044 Evaluation Kit (part number EA00J09A), which includes the LAN8044 EDSX Daughter Card (EV57U68A) and EVB-VSC7558TSN EDSX (UNG8415).
Production quantities of the Optical Ethernet PHY Transceivers are now available through Microchip’s direct sales channels or authorized distributors.
Microchip Technology Inc., headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, supplies semiconductors for multiple industries worldwide. The company provides system-level solutions aimed at simplifying design challenges across emerging technologies and established markets. More information about its products can be found on the company website.
