24 September 2003 Breinigsville, PA Lightwave -- TriQuint Semiconductor's Optoelectronics Division has announced the addition of Coarse WDM (CWDM) SFP transceivers to its NetLight SFP transceiver family, offering customers an upgrade path for metro and enterprise networks.
TriQuint also announced its intention to use the SFP form factor at even higher channel densities, adding DWDM NetLight SFP transceivers to its product roadmap, which would enable Ethernet switch and router manufacturers to upgrade their existing SFP ports to DWDM. TriQuint plans to incorporate specifically designed cooled lasers into the SFP form factor with internal wavelength control management to implement DWDM SFP transceivers.
"The introduction of our new CWDM SFP transceivers helps customers meet the rapidly growing demand for more functions in the smaller SFP form factor and underlines TriQuint's position as a full-line supplier of SFP transceivers," contends Stefan Rochus, marketing director for TriQuint Optoelectronics. "As a leader in DWDM solutions we are leveraging our strength in making our own chips and packages, and our years of experience in low cost and volume manufacturing of WDM products to provide cost effective CWDM SFP solutions to our customers. We next plan to put full DWDM capability into the SFP form factor with a target release date of early 2004."
CWDM has drawn a lot of interest recently as a cost effective alternative to DWDM. Less expensive uncooled lasers may be used in CWDM products because of wide channel spacing. These lasers require less precise wavelength control, as well as lower-cost WDM passive components. The SFP form factor is also a cost effective means to optimize fiber utilization, while providing an upgrade path for existing equipment in metro and enterprise networks.
Manufactured at its Matamoros, Mexico facility, TriQuint's new versions of the NetLight SFP transceivers target CWDM interfaces for SONET/SDH, Gigabit Ethernet, and Fibre Channel applications and are wavelength compliant as defined in ITU-T Recommendation G.694.2.
TriQuint's CWDM SFPs are available as dual-rate transceivers for SONET/SDH data rates at 155 Mbits/sec and 622 Mbits/sec; a multi-rate transceiver for 1-Gbit/sec Fibre Channel, 1-Gigabit Ethernet, and 2-Gbit/sec Fibre Channel; and a single-rate for 2.5-Gbit/sec SONET/SDH, reducing the operational overhead cost associated with sparing and inventory. The transceivers incorporate TriQuint's own APD and MQW DFB components and are packaged in optical engines designed specifically for SFP transceivers. The CWDM SFPs are offered with digital diagnostic monitoring per the SFF-8472 standard as well as with the company's standard latch and new bail latch release option designed to prevent accidental in-service disconnections.
Samples of the NetLight CWDM SFP transceivers are available now with volume production beginning in 2004.