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Posted by Stephen Hardy
Here's a look at what people told me today:
Here's a look at what people told me today:
- JDSU introduced its tunable XFP, based on its integrated laser and Mach-Zehnder (ILMZ) modulator. The ILMZ is packaged in a special TOSA. The device also features a JDSU-designed controller ASIC. In addition to the module, a JDSU spokesman said the company will offer the TOSA and ASIC as separate products.
- EMCORE also unveiled plans for a tunable XFP. However, ExceLight Communications, the US arm of Sumitomo Electric Industries (SEI), thinks there will still be demand for the tunable XFP-E it has on display. The XFP-E will be a more capable replacement for very high performance 300-pin transceivers than your average XFP, said SEI staffers at the booth. Replied a JDSU spokesman, it sounds like SEI is targeting ultra-long-haul applications -- and if SEI thinks they can make a living off of those applications, good luck to them.
- Execs at Ignis Photonyx, which makes WDM-PON subsystems (among other things), foresee strong pull from business service applications for WDM-PON.
- AMCC's extremely flexible Yahara 10GbE framer/mapper/PHY can be used in metro packet optical transport platforms as well as 100G applications. But AMCC sources said they'd need to develop new chips to meet the requirements of the long-haul packet optical transport platform Verizon is talking up.
- At a press luncheon, University of Minnesota Andrew Odlyzko suggested that the current "bandwidth is growing at 50% annually" rule of thumb could be overshooting the mark by about 15% if you're talking worldwide figures.
- OFS is now in the splicer and optical components business, thanks to a North American reorganization its parent, Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., has initiated. OFS will now market pump lasers, signal lasers, connector parts, and other components, as well as the fusion splicers, under the Fitel name. In addition to publicizing a tunable dispersion compensator, OFS also highlighted a reconfigurable dispersion compensation module, which comprises multiple lengths of dispersion compensating fiber and a small switch.
- They're hiring in the market research space. Andrew Schmitt has shut down Nyquist Capital (where he authored one of the more interesting blogs in the space) to join Infonetics Research as directing analyst for optical. Meanwhile, LightCounting has hired Brad Smith as senior VP. Smith will be responsible for the development of LightCounting's new market coverage in transceiver-related semiconductor and optical markets and for managing the company's consulting operations.
