Xtera Communications Inc., a long-haul and ultra-long-haul optical networking company that completed its second round of financing for $110 million in January 2001, announced the use of discrete Raman technology to demonstrate what the company claims will be the world's first multi-band transmission in the S-band (1485 to 1525 nm) and C-band (1530 to 1565 nm).
Operating over 5 spans of 25dB on more than 450 km of SMF-28 fiber, this demonstration will show that Raman amplification is a viable alternative to today's EDFA based systems. Demonstrating live at the Optical Fiber Conference (OFC) 2001 in Anaheim, California from March 19 through 21 at Booth 3157, Xtera's first product, the eXpander incorporates specially designed components built and marketed by Lightwave Microsystems and Oplink Communications
Xtera's eXpander product demonstration uses Lightwave Microsystems planar lightwave circuits and Oplink Communications fiber optic components to deliver the complete solution, making S-band a reality for backbone optical networks. This demonstration is a technological and commercial breakthrough, exemplifying the ability of the Xtera eXpander to increase usable bandwidth of optical networks by allowing fiber to carry an additional 96 channels of 10 Gb/s at 50 GHZ spacing in the previously untapped S-band
"This demonstration shows the interoperability of S-band traffic with C-band systems, thus allowing seamless upgrades beyond initially deployed systems. In combination, the S-band and C-band will deliver the lowest cost per gigabit per kilometer for carriers," according to Xtera Chief Operating Officer, Carl DeWilde.
The eXpander brings together core technologies from three companies to create and deliver a commercialization of the S-Band. Lightwave Microsystems manufactured the first commercially available S-band 40-Channel Arrayed Waveguide Grating (AWG), utilizing the efficiency and flexibility of Lightwave Microsystem's proprietary LightWeaver technology to extend DWDM system capacity.
Oplink Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPLK) built a complete Raman components suite for the Xtera eXpander. These components are the first commercially available filter-based, crystal-based and fused-biconic based components operating in the S-band. Oplink's epoxy-free manufacturing process ensures that the Raman components can operate at high optical power levels.
The Xtera eXpander is the first in a series of System Integrals, turnkey subsystems that enable telecom equipment manufacturers to speed time to market with new features on systems they currently sell to carriers. These enhancements help system vendors become more responsive to the dynamic requirements and cost objectives now prevalent in today's service provider's network. Xtera's System Integrals bridge the gap between components/modules and full systems by providing fully functional network features that integrate into existing network elements.
About Xtera:
Xtera Communications Inc., based in the telecom-technology corridor in North Texas, develops long-haul and ultra long-haul technologies and products for the all-optical network, enabling carriers to achieve both greater distance and more bandwidth in order to satisfy ever-increasing network demands. For more information, visit www.xtera.com.