Oclaro Expands High Bit Rate Transponder Leadership with High-Performing, Low-Power 100 Gbps Coherent Module

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Oclaro, Inc. (NASDAQ: OCLR), a tier-one provider and innovator of optical communications and laser solutions, today announced that it has further strengthened its coherent product portfolio with the introduction of the MI 8000XM, a high-performing, low-power 100 Gbps MSA-compliant coherent transponder module. The MI 8000XM is the second member of the Oclaro coherent transponder family, joining the MI 5000XM 40 Gbps coherent module, which is shipping in volume today.  The MI 5000XM and MI 8000XM transponders leverage Oclaro's proven history in delivering coherent solutions, its competencies in indium phosphide (InP) and lithium niobate (LiNbO3) material technologies, its vertical integration in optical components, and its production and application expertise.  

Both the new 100 Gbps and the current 40 Gbps modules employ a PM-QPSK modulation format combined with coherent detection.  Coherent detection, the leading technology for enabling 100 Gbps and higher optical transmission, delivers the scalability and flexibility needed for transmitting more bandwidth cost-efficiently over fiber optic networks. Complementing this family, Oclaro also has an established leadership position in the high bit rate direct detection transponder market with 40 Gbps transponders providing DPSK and DQPSK modulation formats with volume shipments that started in 2007.  Oclaro also provides a full range of the optical components necessary to implement complete transponder solutions.  By providing customers with both coherent and direct detection module families and the key associated components, Oclaro enables network equipment manufacturers to develop market-leading, cost effective transponders for both new next-generation network implementations as well as upgrades on existing networks.

"Following on the success of our 40 Gbps transponders, the 100 Gbps MI 8000XM leverages Oclaro's expertise in module design combined with a deep understanding of high bit rate propagation challenges in optical fiber networks," said Dr. Terry Unter, President and General Manager of the Oclaro Optical Networks Solutions Business Unit.  "The MI 8000XM transponder integrates the latest generation DSP with an advanced control and management implementation to deliver state-of-the-art performance in a module that is easy for our customers to integrate into their network equipment."

"Merchant coherent transponders are critical for mass deployment of 100 Gbps DWDM systems," said Ron Kline, Principal Analyst at Ovum.  "We continue to see strong growth of coherent technology for both 40G and 100G applications.  The availability of standardized modules will help lower system costs and increase market competitiveness of vendors offering high-capacity bandwidth solutions."

About the MI 8000XM Transponder Module

The MI 8000XM fully complies with the OIF 100 Gbps MSA Implementation Agreement including specifications on power consumption. This transponder employs an advanced low-power digital signal processor large-scale integrated (DSP-LSI) circuit supplied by NEL (NTT Electronics Corporation). The DSP-LSI was an outcome of the "R&D on High Speed Optical Transport System Technologies" project, which was supported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan. The DSP offers correction of chromatic dispersion as well as polarization mode dispersion, which enables the transponder module to adapt automatically to the dispersion properties of a wide range of new and existing optical networks. The inclusion of soft-decision forward error correction (SD-FEC) further broadens the application space for the MI 8000XM 100 Gbps transponder module.

The new MI 8000XM transponder module is targeted at optical network solutions from metro through ultra-long haul, including submarine networks to support the growth of bandwidth intensive services such as video, cloud computing, and wireless broadband data services.  The automatic chromatic dispersion and polarization mode dispersion compensation properties make this module particularly well suited for the next generation optical network architecture with extensive optical routing and richer mesh network topologies. High spectral as well as physical density, the latter enabled by reduced power dissipation, are key characteristics for deployment in those networks, which will serve to meet the ever-increasing bandwidth demands over the coming years.

Availability

The MI 8000XM 100 Gbps coherent module is scheduled to start shipping in April 2012.

About Oclaro

Oclaro, Inc. (NASDAQ: OCLR) is a tier-one provider and innovator of optical communications and laser components, modules and subsystems for a broad range of diverse markets, including telecommunications, industrial, scientific, consumer electronics and medical. Oclaro is a global leader, dedicated to photonics innovation with cutting-edge research and development (R&D) and chip fabrication facilities in the U.S., U.K., Switzerland, Israel, Korea and Italy, and in-house and contract manufacturing sites in China and Thailand with design, sales and service organizations in each of the major regions around the world. www.oclaro.com

Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Oclaro, the Oclaro logo, and certain other Oclaro trademarks and logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Oclaro, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the US and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Information in this release is subject to change without notice.

SOURCE Oclaro, Inc.