Powering tomorrow's data internetworking systems

The Telecoms evolution will require a number of new data internetworking equipment including high speed central processing units (CPU), digital signal processors (DSP) and high speed transmission routers and switches at 10 Gbit/s, or more, for LAN and WAN switching, Sonet and SDH systems. A mix of both fixed and mobile access network systems will be connected to this new common connectivity network's access points. These new data internetworking equipment and access network systems will include cost sensitive on-board power solutions and distributed power architectures (DPA), using 48 V DC system voltage, will become the preferred power system solution. The power requirements for on-board DC/DC converters are ranging from 10 W per board, in telecom switching and cellular radio applications, up to more than 200 W per board, in high speed CPUs and high speed 10 Gbit/s routers. To manage and become a successful on-board power solution provider in this telecom evolution it will require close co-operation with the equipment manufacturers, to understand the different applications' requirements, both technical skillness and resources as well as high manufacturing volumes and high automation levels to meet the technical requirements and the demand for improved cost/performance ratio.