Finisar to Demonstrate the World’s First 1×9 WSS with Flexgrid Technology at OFC 2011
Finisar Demonstrates World’s First 1×9 Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) With Flexgrid(TM) Technology at OFC 2011
Flexgrid(TM) Technology Enables Carriers to Seamlessly Support Future Speed Increases in Next Generation Telecommunication Networks
Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ:FNSR – News) today announced that it will show the world’s first public demonstration of a 1×9 WSS with Flexgrid™ technology at the Optical Fiber Communications (OFC) exhibition held this week in Los Angeles, California. The 1×9 WSS with Flexgrid™ is part of Finisar’s reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADM) portfolio. It has been specifically designed to enable telecommunications carriers to migrate to higher data rates, including 400 Gb/s and beyond, without replacing deployed WSS modules. This demonstration will take place in Finisar’s booth #1701, March 8-10, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Finisar’s Flexgrid™ technology is unique in its ability to allow carriers to dynamically change channel spacing to precisely match required signal bandwidth with minimal wasted optical spectrum. Specifically, current ROADM deployments concentrate on fixed 50 GHz channel spacing, which can support data rates up to 100 Gb/s. By leveraging adjustable channel spacing from 50 to 200 GHz in spacing increments of 12.5 GHz, Flexgrid™ enables carriers to efficiently carry all future transmission formats up to 1 Tb/s on existing ROADM infrastructure, at whatever bandwidth these signals may require.
A key aspect of the demonstration is the flexibility and performance of Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) technology which serves as the architectural foundation for Finisar’s WSS platform. The LCoS architecture enables Flexgrid™ technology to be implemented through firmware and calibration changes alone. Furthermore, existing ITU standard 50 GHz and 100 GHz grids are fully supported, with no performance penalty.
“We believe that Flexgrid™ is the critical technology that will allow tier-one carriers to efficiently deploy next-generation networks,” said Eitan Gertel, CEO, Finisar Corporation. “Based on our proven LCoS architecture, Finisar’s 1×9 WSS module with Flexgrid™ continues to demonstrate our commitment to leading the optical communications industry with the key technologies that serve as the foundation for reliable, high-performance networks.”
The 1×9 WSS with Flexgrid™ technology is now shipping. In addition to this demonstration, Finisar will display equipment from its wide portfolio of optical products including transceivers, transponders, wavelength selective switches, active cables, advanced optical components, and passive devices.
About Finisar
Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ:FNSR – News) is a global technology leader for fiber optic subsystems and components that enable high-speed voice, video and data communications for telecommunications, networking, storage, wireless, and cable TV applications. For more than 20 years, Finisar has provided critical optics technologies to system manufacturers to meet the increasing demands for network bandwidth and storage. Finisar is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, USA with R&D, manufacturing sites, and sales offices worldwide. For additional information, visit www.finisar.com.
