Network Photonics announces shipment of 1x4 MEMS-based wavelength switch
February 4, 2003-- Network Photonics Inc., today announced first customer shipments of the CrossWave 1400 all-optical wavelength switching subsystem. These subsystems represent the first commercially available 1x4 product.
The CrossWave 1400 is a 1x4 wavelength-selective switching subsystem designed as a building block for transparent NxN wavelength switching nodes in long-haul, ultra-long-haul and regional carrier networks. Wavelength-selective switching is used in conjunction with sub-wavelength grooming OEO switches or ADMs at junction points to manage wavelength connections and deliver services. All-optical NxN switches allow express wavelengths to traverse the network junction point without requiring unnecessary OEO regeneration while providing dynamic add/drop switching capability for rapid reconfiguration and flexible deployment of transport services.
The subsystems' design enables a variety of wavelength crossconnect (WXC) architectures, giving system designers a way to build highly scalable and upgradeable NxN WXCs (8x8 and beyond). The CrossWave technology allows OEMs to create a 4x4 WXC with four 1400 subsystems. In contrast, a comparable 4x4 WXC built using 1x1 wavelength blocker devices would require 16 subsystems and cost twice as much.
The multi-wavelength switch integrates DWDM demultiplexing, switching and multiplexing functions into a single device. This provides wavelength granularity switching between the input and output ports -- any wavelength arriving at one of the input ports can be connected to any output port without restriction. The switch can be integrated into next-generation DWDM systems to enable the dynamic reconfigurability and minimization of regenerators required by carriers in order to reduce their equipment and operating costs.
The switch is designed to handle up to 96 wavelengths per fiber at 50-GHz channel spacing in the C-band. Additional bands and channel spacing are available. An integrated controller configures the switch connections and communicates and reports to the node-level control plane.
Network Photonics (Boulder, CO) has shipped its CrossWave 1200, 2200 and 1400 subsystems to over 15 customers in North America, Asia and Europe.