Four fibres are better for Mitel and Agilent

Mitel and Agilent Technologies have signed a multisource agreement they claim will set the standard for next-generation four-channel parallel fibre-optic modules operating at up to 10Gbaud.

Mitel and Agilent Technologies have signed a multisource agreement they claim will set the standard for next-generation four-channel parallel fibre-optic modules operating at up to 10Gbaud.

The two companies have leveraged their wide range of experience in fibre-optic and semiconductor technologies to standardise the package, and optical and electrical interfaces for their respective modules.

This ensures that customers will have access to multiple international sources that are compatible with other components within their systems.

Both companies expect to offer the modules in 2001.

Designed for a variety of fibre-optic communications applications, the parallel optic module features four transmit and four receive channels in one package, each operating at 1 to 2.5Gbaud, for an aggregate bandwidth of 4 to 10Gbaud in each direction.

The module is designed to meet the skyrocketing demand for network capacity in next-generation systems, including very short reach OC-192 and InfiniBand connections.

In February, a 12-channel agreement was announced between Mitel, Agilent Technologies and WL Gore and Associates.

Mitel and Agilent expect that the design and manufacturing expertise developed for the 12-channel product will be applied to the new four-channel transceiver.

"Parallel optics technology is the most economical way to satisfy 10Gbaud datarate requirements up to 300 metres", said Tom Fawcett, Agilent's marketing manager for Optical Systems Interconnects.

"We will apply our high volume manufacturing and superior design technology for port-side interconnects to deliver a four-channel solution that meets the market's ongoing demand for higher bandwidth".

"The MSA will standardise a common package so that customers will have access to multiple sources for interchangeable devices", said Olof Svenonius, product line manager for parallel fibre modules at Mitel Semiconductor.

"Now our customers will be able to quickly bring high-capacity networking equipment to market with the unbeatable benefits of lower cost, board space and time-to-market afforded by parallel fibre".

Performance of single-fibre and copper interconnects is limited in terms of bandwidth, density and distance.

Network system manufacturers are finding that parallel fibre-optic modules are a cost-effective 10Gbaud solution for short reach applications.

The new modules can support transmission requirements of 10Gbaud while utilising less than one inch of board space.

The transceiver is compatible with an industry-standard MTP/MPO-terminated parallel fibre-optic interconnect.

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