VDSL2, now officially ratified as G.993.2, uses a unified modulation scheme based on discrete multitone (DMT) technology and is aimed at relatively short loop, 100Mbit/s symmetric transmission in both downstream and upstream. VDSL2 consumes as much as 30MHz of bandwidth compared to about 2.2 MHz for ADSL2+, and 12 MHz for the existing VDSL.

The Munich, Germany based group was known to be developing parts for the emerging standard that will sell alongside its early version VDSL and well established ADSL chips.

Other companies known to have developed VDSL2 devices include Ikanos Communications, Metalink and Texas Instruments. Ikanos' chipset will target line-terminal systems and subscriber equipment. The company was one of the early proponents of DMT line codes.

Infineon's device, dubbed the VINAX, uses a flexible VDSL2/ADSL2+ architecture to take care of backward compatibility and interoperability, according to Christian Wolff, vice president of the communications business group and general manager of the wireline access unit at Infineon.

"VINAX allows carriers to seamlessly upgrade their DSL networks by gradually changing line cards in the central offices or street cabinets to VDSL2 while end users still use their ADSL2+ modems at home," said Wolff.

Talking to EE Times earlier this year, Wolff likened VDSL2 "the universal and ultimate DSL standard."

The multi-channel central office chip set, designed for full 30MHz VDSL2 capability, is based on a 2-chip architecture for line card densities of 48 full rate VDSL2 ports in both CO and remote terminal applications.

For the customer equipment side, Infineon is coming out with a single chip VDSL2 part addressing both simple bridge modems and access gateway applications.

Samples of both are available now, and volume production is slated for the third quarter of 2005.