Company Overview

PMC-Sierra (Nasdaq: PMCS) is focused on developing products that provide its customers with advanced communications semiconductor system solutions for the global information network. The Company participates in the high growth communications market segments of wide area network infrastructure, local area networking and remote Internet access.

PMC-Sierra provides advanced semiconductor solutions for high speed transmission and networking systems that provide the underlying networking pipelines for the global information infrastructure.

The Company is a leader in the area of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) communications, and a developer of high speed communications components for frame relay and remote Internet access applications over SONET/SDH, T1/E1, and T3/E3 transmission lines. PMC-Sierras Ethernet Products Division is focused on developing high integration, low cost solutions for the competitive Ethernet marketplace.

PMC-Sierras Mission and Quality Statement To provide superior high speed Internetworking semiconductor solutions to enable the restructuring of the Global Information Infrastructure. This will be achieved by providing our customers with world-class products, quality, service and technical support.

Background

The Company was founded in 1984 as Sierra Semiconductor and first offered its stock to the public in 1991. PMC-Sierra was established in 1992 and became a wholly-owned subsidiary in

• In August 1996 the company announced its decision to exit

the personal computer modem chipset business, to restructure its other non-networking products and focus on its networking products. All of the Companys modem products were disposed of in 1997. The Companys remaining non-networking products are still being sold but no development or follow-on products were planned. Also in 1997, the Company changed its name to PMC- Sierra to reflect the corporate focus on internetworking semiconductor solutions. PMC-Sierra to reflect the corporate focus on internetworking semiconductor solutions.

Customers

PMC-Sierra has developed an excellent reputation for its technical abilities in high-speed physical layer design. Leading network equipment suppliers such as 3Comm, Ascend Communications, Alcatel Telecom, Bay Networks, Cisco Systems, FORE Systems, Lucent Technologies, Newbridge Networks and Nortel, among others, utilize PMC-Sierras networking semiconductors in ATM, frame relay, remote access and switching solutions.

PMC-Sierras chips are located throughout the fabric of the advanced global network: in the LANs, WANs and Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Many of its products reflect the cooperative efforts of PMC-Sierra and the SATURN Development Group, an organization co-founded by PMC-Sierra and Sun Microsystems in

• Today, the group comprises over 30 of the worlds leading

networking companies working with PMC-Sierra in the design and application of high-speed networking technologies, the definition of standard chips and the generation of specifications that address key industry interoperability issues.

Quality

PMC-Sierra is registered to the ISO-9001 international quality standard. In 1997, PMC-Sierra achieved a 98 percent on-time delivery performance by line times based on the companys original commitments. The companys excellent delivery record illustrates its commitment to ensure that PMC-Sierra customers receive superior service delivered in a superb manner. And, supplier awards from networking giants indicate that PMC- Sierras performance and support is valued and recognized by key customers.

Awards

In 1997, PMC-Sierras technology, quality and service were recognized by three major networking customers: Cisco Systems, FORE Systems and Lucent Technologies. Cisco Systems awarded PMC- Sierra as Ciscos Supplier of the Year for Technology, in recognition of PMC-Sierras supplier and technical product excellence. FORE Systems cited PMC-Sierra as 'Superior Broadband Component Supplier' for product quality, delivery performance and responsiveness. Recognizing achievements in quality and delivery, Lucent Technologies, Merrimack Valley Division, named PMC-Sierra 'Honoree, Strategic Supplier'.

Company Information

Additional Details

Legal Name: PMC - Sierra Inc.

Number of Employees: 600

Contacts

Products

• Asynchronous And Pdh

  Our T1/E1 and T3 chips are the most highly integrated TDM interface chips on the market today. They enable network equipment vendors to offer more reliable products at a lower cost. They are pin and software compatible in both North American and European systems, enabling vendors to develop common designs for the worldwide market. And they provide additional economies because they integrate the digital framing and analog line interface unit functions in a single device.

• Atm Lan And Wan
• Ethernet
• Sonet/Sdh

  Our Stel/ar (SONET/SDH Telecommunications Architecture) products provide a complete chip set for transmission, multiplexing and switching applications including add-drop multiplexers and digital cross-connect systems.

  They work with both North American and international standards and provide system-wide solutions, enabling vendors to build systems handling 155 megabits per second through to 622 megabits per second, meeting all current standards quickly, again improving time-to-market.

  PMC-Sierra's proprietary modular design methodology lends itself to cost-effective system upgrades as SONET/SDH standards evolve.

NAICS Categories

• 334410 Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing

Additional Information