Nistica launches first three ROADM products

June 5, 2006 Bridgewater, NJ -- Nistica, an emerging optical subsystems developer, has released the first details of its "FLEDGE" series of ROADM subsystems for network edge applications.

Ashish Vengsarkar, CEO, and Thomas A. Strasser, founder and CTO, say that their subsystems meet network edge requirements by offering the capability to add or drop a smaller number of wavelengths � from three to 16, depending upon the module -- than wavelength-selective switches designed for core applications. Needless to say, the two Nistica executives say their subsystems also cost less than modules designed for core applications � as much as 80% less in terms of first costs, according to a company press release.

The FLEDGE subsystems include:

• FLEDGE THREE a hitless tunable filter for low-cost replacement for current fixed optical add/drop devices that are limited by wavelength specificity and long lead times. As its name implies, it is capable of adding or dropping three wavelengths.
  
• FLEDGE TEN is an edge ROADM module able to add/drop up to eight wavelengths from the entire C-band of the optical spectrum.
  
• FULL FLEDGE is an edge ROADM module able to add/drop up to 16 wavelengths from the entire C-band where carriers expect to use more than eight wavelengths, but need a low-cost scalable option today.
  

Vengsarkar and Strasser won't divulge the technologies that provide the foundation for the modules, other than to suggest that they have used a combination of readily available technologies. All of the subsystems are available with optional channel monitoring and variable power control features.

Samples of all three modules have been delivered to more than 10 potential customers, which include developers of core ROADM systems looking to expand to edge applications; fixed multiplexer vendors looking to add reconfigurability; and MSPP designers looking to add additional functions. They say the FLEDGE TEN appears to be the most popular of their three offerings.

"Nistica is the first subsystems player we've seen to announce an edge ROADM product suite, and, in our view, the timing matches emerging market needs," says Michael Howard, principal and co-founder of Infonetics Research, in a Nistica press release. "The network edge presents a new, different, and more cost-sensitive set of ROADM requirements. Nistica has an architecture designed around delivering essentially core ROADM technology to the edge network at a fraction of traditional ROADM cost."

Formed in January 2005, Nistica is funded by PA Early Stage, Technology Venture Partners, William Cadogan, and other individual investors

-- S. Hardy