Multicore Processors Are Critical in the Face of Growing Data Traffic, Heavy Reading Finds

The need for multicore processors is growing as data traffic grows, says Heavy Reading Components Insider

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Oct 22, 2014, 09:07 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- To meet rapidly growing data traffic requirements, service providers need networking systems with much greater packet processing capabilities, and multicore processors are the answer with over one fifth of companies already using 400G packet processors, according to the latest report from Heavy Reading Components Insider (www.heavyreading.com/commchip), a paid research service of Heavy Reading (www.heavyreading.com).

Equipment Vendors Rate Multicore Processors & Suppliers analyzes the current and projected use of multicore processors by telecom and networking equipment manufacturers, based on the results of an exclusive worldwide survey of engineers, designers, product managers and sales/marketing personnel that work for telecom and networking system equipment manufacturers and suppliers. The responses to our survey make it clear that these devices are critical components in most types of networking equipment, from the access edge to the core of the network.

For a complete list of companies mentioned in this report, http://twimgs.com/audiencedevelopment/LRHR/PDFS/cci1014_companies_2.pdf.

"Rapidly growing data traffic is being driven by the increasing use of network intensive applications including Internet access, cloud services and video/TV on demand," says Simon Stanley, research analyst for Heavy Reading Components Insider and author of the report. "To meet these requirements service providers need networking systems with much greater packet processing capabilities and support for multiple 100Gbit/s interfaces."

Multicore processors are required for most high-performance networking systems, handling packet processing from less than 1 Gbit/s up to more than 100 Gbit/s, Stanley says. "The 2014 survey has shown a significant shift to the latest processors based on 28nm technology," he adds. "Key requirements for the next generation of multicore processors for networking applications will be further integration, performance increases and greater support for line speed data plane implementations using open source software."

Key findings of Equipment Vendors Rate Multicore Processors & Suppliers include the following:

400G packet processors are already being used by one fifth of companies.
Half of companies will require 100G packet processing in the next 12 to 24 months.
There is a significant shift to integrated solutions with traffic management, DPI, control plane processor and security acceleration.
Intel is rated as the leading multicore processor vendor, followed by AMD, Freescale, Broadcom and Cavium.
Cavium is the leading vendor for integrated multicore processors, with 35 percent using OCTEON II and OCTEON III.
Broadcom is the leading vendor for communication processors and network processors.
Five ARMv8-based processors are being used by companies covered here.

Equipment Vendors Rate Multicore Processors & Suppliers is available as part of an annual single-user subscription (6 issues per year) to Heavy Reading Components Insider, priced at $1,499. Individual reports are available for $595 (single-user license).

For more information about Heavy Reading Components Insider, please visit: www.heavyreading.com/commchip. For more information about other Heavy Reading Insider research services, please visit: www.heavyreading.com/research.

To request a free executive summary of the report, or for details on multi-user licensing options, please contact:

Bryan Gillies,
Account Executive, Insider Sales
Heavy Reading
415-580-6256
[email protected]

Press/analyst contact:
Dennis Mendyk
Vice President of Research, Heavy Reading
201-587-2154
[email protected]

About Heavy Reading
Heavy Reading (www.heavyreading.com), the research division of Light Reading, offers deep analysis of emerging telecom trends to network operators, technology suppliers, and investors. Its product portfolio includes in-depth reports that address critical next-generation technology and service issues, market trackers that focus on the telecom industry's most critical technology sectors, exclusive worldwide surveys of network operator decision-makers that identify future purchasing and deployment plans, and a rich array of custom and consulting services that give clients the market intelligence needed to compete successfully in the global telecom industry.

About Light Reading
Light Reading (www.lightreading.com) combines its research-led online communities and targeted events portfolio to help those in the global communications industry make informed decisions. Lightreading.com is the ultimate source for telecom analysis for more than 350,000 subscribers each month, leading the media sector in terms of traffic, content, and reputation. Light Reading produces targeted communications events and focused one-day conferences each year for cable, mobile, and wireline executives across five continents.

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SOURCE Heavy Reading