15 July 2003 Bryan, TX Lightwave--Dominion Lasercom Inc. (DLI), is launching its next-generation of free-space optics (FSO) products this month. The new hardware, an extension of the company's Digital Audio Video infrared Data (DAViD) product line, accommodates both IP and TDMA interfaces from 10 Mbits/sec to Gigabit Ethernet as well as from multiple DS-1 circuits to OC-3 speeds. The products also incorporate the latest active alignment technology that gives stronger link budgets for longer distances and higher circuit reliability.
"In order to overcome some of the critical challenges of FSO, we had to engineer the product to be simple and inexpensive to install," said David Panak, president and co-founder of Dominion Lasercom Inc. "We took a hard look at issues such as electrical utility connections, antenna form factors, and deployment costs, and then applied best-of-breed engineering practices, which resulted in either the minimization or complete elimination of the complexities usually associated with competing FSO products."
The net impact of this innovation is that both enterprise and public network providers can now build or extend high-speed networks not only in a matter of hours but also at a fraction of the cost of other broadband technology, according to the company. The FSO technology has a very small footprint, does not require an outdoor or rooftop utility connection and can be installed almost anywhere. The entire system is small, and light enough to be transported in a single suitcase as a disaster recovery kit.
The first field deployment of the Gigabit Ethernet technology is scheduled for the end of July with FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis. "The FedEx Institute of Technology is a perfect test facility to participate in the launch of the new Gigabit Ethernet product by Dominion Lasercom," said Jim Phillips, chairman and executive director of the Institute. "The FedEx Institute collaborates with leading corporations and research organizations across the country and we are excited to beta test this innovative product."
Founded in 1996, Dominion Lasercom Inc. is a pioneer in free-space optics and fiber coupled free-space laser communication systems. Dominion holds multiple FSO patents, including the foundational patent for the use of FSO in point-to-multipoint networks for the "last-mile." This is the patent recently upheld, in its entirety, by the Western District Federal Court in a lawsuit against TeraBeam Inc. Dominion's patented technology is designed to meet the needs of enterprise, government and public network operators who are dissatisfied with existing broadband delivery platforms.