FIBER OPTICS INDUSTRY REPORT

Oct. 1, 2007
The move to higher data rates is transforming dispersion-compensation technology from a niche market to a substantial business, according to a new report from industry analyst firm Communications Industry Researchers (CIR; Glen Allen, VA).

Dispersion compensation a $755 million market

The move to higher data rates is transforming dispersion-compensation technology from a niche market to a substantial business, according to a new report from industry analyst firm Communications Industry Researchers (CIR; Glen Allen, VA). The CIR report predicts worldwide sales of dispersion products will reach $755 million by 2012.

Tunable “set and forget” dynamic compensation technologies using fiber Bragg gratings, etalons, and other technologies are providing a more flexible alternative to fixed dispersion-compensation modules, CIR says, and are finding favor with carriers because they can address polarization mode dispersion variations during transmission and are seen as essential to future long-haul and metro deployments of 40 Gbit/s technology.

R&D 100 award goes to amplifier developers

Sandia National Laboratories and the Naval Research Laboratory were honored with one of this year’s R&D 100 awards for their development of mode-filtered optical-amplifier technology. The awards aim to recognize the “100 most technologically significant new products” of the year.

Sandia’s award application cites Nufern (East Granby, CT) as one of the first companies to bring a commercial product based on the invention to market. The paper describes a 180 W mode-filtered fiber laser produced by Nufern, with electrical efficiency seven times greater than a traditional Nd:YAG laser. Nufern has licensed the patent related to this mode-filtering technology from the U.S. Government, and is also a leading manufacturer of large-mode-area optical fibers useful for mode filtering.

MRV Communications forms joint venture

Luminent and Fiberxon, wholly owned subsidiaries of MRV Communications

(Chatsworth, CA), announced that they will be branded under the name Source Photonics. The name change reflects the operation of the two companies as a combined business under a unified management team since MRV closed its acquisition of Fiberxon in July 2007. The Source Photonics brand will offer a portfolio of optical transceivers for access, telecommunications, and data communications networks, shipping more than one million transceivers per quarter at current run rates.

Liekki fibers now available online

Nanoparticle fiber company Liekki (Lohja, Finland) launched an online purchase option at www.liekki.com. The option enablescustomers to order Liekki active fibers, passive fibers, and fiber components, optical engine modules, and design software quickly and conveniently. The online purchase process is based on a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol and guarantees secured communications and transactions. The feature is intended for small orders of standard Liekki products. For large or custom orders, Liekki asks that customers continue to contact their sales support group or request a quote for the required products and services.

Telecom CAPEX to hit $225 billion in 2007

Capital equipment expenditures (CAPEX) of telecom service providers are up in every region of the world, driven by carrier network transformation and migration projects, swelling numbers of mobile and broadband subscribers, and increasing demand for personal broadband services and high-bandwidth video services such as mobile TV, mobile video, Internet protocol television, and video on demand, claims a new report from Infonetics Research (San Jose, CA).

“For the third year in a row, carrier CAPEX has increased in all regions of the world, but we expect this investment cycle to plateau in 2009 and decrease in 2010,” said Stephane Teral, principal analyst and lead author of the report. “However, service providers in most regions are operating at a sustainable CAPEX-to-revenue ratio in the 15% range, which should carry the market in these regions through the plateau without much disruption. The Asia Pacific region is worrisome, though, because the average capital intensity rate there is a high 21%, fueled by China’s rapid growth. If that rate doesn’t come down, we could be looking at the beginning of another telecom bubble in that region.”

For more business news visit www.optoelectronicsreport.com.

Also in the news . . .

Intune Networks (Dublin, Ireland), a developer of technology for telecommunications networks, raised $17.75 million from a consortium of international investors. . . . Infinera (Sunnyvale, CA) announced that North China Grid Company selected Infinera for a next-generation communication network providing connectivity for the power grid’s operations throughout the North China region. . . . Sterlite Optical Technologies (Pune, India), India’s only global provider and integrated manufacturer of optical fiber, received a contract from Bharat Sanchar Nigam-the world’s seventh largest telecommunications company-to manufacture and supply high-fiber-count ribbon fiber-optic cables for BSNL’s Pan-India Optical Fiber Access Network. . . . India telecom service provider Bharti Airtel selected ECI Telecom (Petach Tikva, Israel) to supply optical equipment supporting a subscriber-base expansion.

Sponsored Recommendations

Brain Computer Interface (BCI) electrode manufacturing

Jan. 31, 2025
Learn how an industry-leading Brain Computer Interface Electrode (BCI) manufacturer used precision laser micromachining to produce high-density neural microelectrode arrays.

Electro-Optic Sensor and System Performance Verification with Motion Systems

Jan. 31, 2025
To learn how to use motion control equipment for electro-optic sensor testing, click here to read our whitepaper!

How nanopositioning helped achieve fusion ignition

Jan. 31, 2025
In December 2022, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieved fusion ignition. Learn how Aerotech nanopositioning contributed to this...

Nanometer Scale Industrial Automation for Optical Device Manufacturing

Jan. 31, 2025
In optical device manufacturing, choosing automation technologies at the R&D level that are also suitable for production environments is critical to bringing new devices to market...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!