XLight Photonics, manufacturer of tunable fiber-optic subsystems for metro and long-haul DWDM systems based in Tel-Aviv, Israel, has announced the release and availability for shipping and sampling of the XL-TT10G, a Widely Tunable Transponder supporting multiple 10-Gbit/sec data rates in a small size 300-pin MSA package.
The XL-TT10G transponder is capable of tuning over the entire C- or L-bands with wavelength spacing of 50 or 100 GHz. The transponder arrives in a small MSA form factor of 3.5" x 4" x 0.53". It supports multiple data rates, including 9.95, 10.3, 10.66, 10.7, 11.1 and 12.5 Gbits/sec. The transponder is offered with an APD or PIN receiver and with X or Z cut modulator (0 or -0.7 chirp). Tuning the transponder wavelength is possible by using either the standard I2C communication link and commands, or by using the three tuning control pins (LsTune) in the MSA connector, or by tuning it off-line using the "Atlas", XLight's evaluation board and control software.
"This transponder was designed to enable sparing and inventory reduction as well as dynamic wavelength provisioning and to deliver major cost savings to system vendors and service providers," explains Ilan Brillant, director of business development at XLight. "Today, in order to implement tunability in their systems, vendors are forced to either design a complete tunable transponder board or integrate a tunable laser module and a 'laser-less transponder.' Both of these solutions are costly and consume more power and board footprint. Our goal is to enable our customers to enjoy the benefits of a widely tunable transponder in a standard MSA size and at prices that closely resemble fixed wavelength and narrow tuning transponders," he adds.
"Among the key benefits of our transponder is its full backward compatibility and plug and play replacement of 300-pin MSA fixed wavelength or narrow tuning transponders," adds professor Dan Sadot, president, chief technology officer and co-founder of XLight. "Using an XLight evaluation board and control software, it is possible to set the transponder to a specific wavelength off-line. Now the transponder can be inserted to replace a fixed wavelength transponder or even a narrow tuning transponder by using the 3 MSA pins LsTune, to tune the transponder over eight wavelengths around the preset central wavelength. This way even existing systems and designs that do not support the I2C communication channel or lack the software to support it, can enjoy the huge savings that wide range tunability can offers," he concludes.
The XL-TT10G is the second widely tunable transponder that XLight released. Previously, XLight released and presented at NFOEC 2002 the XL-UFTT10GLR, a widely tunable 300-pin MSA transponder with option to support ultra fast (ns) wavelength tuning packed in a 5" x 5" x 0.7" MSA package.