Kamelian's New Variable Gain Optical Linear Amplifier Technology Will Lower Costs in Metro Fibre Networks
Source: Kamelian Ltd.
Offers Zero Distortion Multi-Wavelength Fibre-Optic Amplification
Amsterdam, The Netherlands. UK fibre optic component vendor Kamelian has today unveiled the industry s first variable gain optical linear amplifier (OLA) which allows multi-wavelength amplification with no distortion.
The device, based on the company s established Indium Phosphide semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) technology offers a cost-effective alternative to EDFAs (Erbium Doped Fibre Amplifiers). The company expects that they will be a key enabler for reducing the cost and increasing performance of fibre-optic networks, particularly in the burgeoning metro systems sector.
The OLA is being demonstrated at the European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC 2001) which takes place in Amsterdam from 30th September to 4th October 2001.
Paul May, CEO of Kamelian, stated, "Traditionally, SOAs have been most effective in single-wavelength applications. This technology breakthrough from Kamelian offers the prospect of multi-channel in-line amplification between or within nodes at a cost which will be very attractive for use in metro networks, an area where the use of EDFAs cannot easily be justified."
Optical amplification is a key technology in modern telecommunication systems and SOAs can provide a low cost and small footprint solution.
Unlike other linear optical amplifiers the new Kamelian OLA technology allows the gain to be varied whilst ensuring linear operation and maintaining high output power. This will enable telecommunications networks to reconfigure the power of optical channels dynamically in response to variations in power levels caused by upstream changes in the network.
The Kamelian OLA devices will offer a wide dynamic range, thereby allowing them to cope with worst case loss scenarios and extreme overload conditions. When operated with automatic gain control (AGC), the devices will maintain a specific output power by introducing variable gain or loss, a feature not possible with standard SOAs or EDFAs.
"The variable gain capability offered by our new OLA technology will allow power equalisation at different points throughout the network, something which other linear optical amplifiers are not able to provide," said Ivan Andonovic, CTO of Kamelian. "In an all-optical network scenario, wavelengths experience different paths through the network. When used as an in-line amplifier, variable gain allows users to equalise power levels for bands of wavelengths at crucial points throughout the network."
About Kamelian Kamelian was formed in mid-2000 and has received funding to the level of $28 million from 3i, Lightspeed, and Goldman Sachs. The company has a significant expertise in processing III-V materials, and the Indium Phosphide wafer fabrication facility recently completed at Yarnton, near Oxford, is one of the most advanced of its type in Europe. Kamelian will use the facility to manufacture and package semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) in both single package and multi-channel format.
Contact: Kamelian Ltd, Oxford Bob Press Tel: +44 (0)1865 371 100 bob.press@kamelian.com or EML, Kingston-upon-Thames Matt Wilson Tel: +44 (0)208 408 8000 mattheww@eml.com
Kamelian Ltd, OxfordBob Press
Tel: +44 (0)1865 371 100
bob.press@kamelian.com
or
EML, Kingston-upon-Thames
Matt Wilson
Tel: +44 (0)208 408 8000
mattheww@eml.com
E-mail: mattheww@eml.com
