<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-09-21</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001219210</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IKANOS COMMUNICATIONS</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IKAN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001339073</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OBATA DEREK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O IKANOS COMMUNICATIONS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>47669 FREMONT BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FREMONT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94538</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP of Worldwide Sales</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.48</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-11-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>85193</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.48</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-03-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16666</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.84</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-06-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16666</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.84</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-06-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>66666</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.20</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-07-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16666</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option is fully exercisable from its November 20, 2003 date of grant and vests at the rate of 1/4th of the shares on November 13, 2003 and as to 1/48th of the shares on each one month anniversary thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option is fully exercisable from its March 10, 2004 date of grant and vests as to all 16,666 shares on March 31, 2010; provided, however, that 3,333 shares shall vest on March 31, 2004 and at the end of each fiscal quarter thereafter subject to the Reporting Person meeting milestones for each quarter defined by the Issuer's Chief Executive Officer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option is fully exercisable from its March 1, 2005 date of grant and vests at the rate of 1/12th of the shares on August 1, 2007 and each one month anniversary thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The option is fully exercisable from its June 14, 2005 date of grant and vests at the rate of 1/48th of the shares on April 1, 2005 and each one month anniversary thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The option is fully exercisable from its July 19, 2005 date of grant and vests at the rate of 1/48th of the shares on July 1, 2005 and on each one month anniversary thereafter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ A. Baqi Khan, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
