Bandwidth9 Realizes High Yields of 1550 nm and 1600 nm Fixed Wavelength VCSELs
Proven Manufacturing Process For Tunable VCSELs Delivers High Yields Of Fixed Wavelength Lasers
Sampling Underway With Potential Distribution Partners
Fremont, CA. Bandwidth9, a leader in flexible, reliable, and cost-effective optical components and subsystems, today announced it has successfully manufactured fixed wavelength versions of its tunable vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) for metro and customer premises applications requiring optical transmission within the 1550nm and 1600nm frequency ranges.
Designed to displace more expensive distributed-feedback (DFB) lasers for certain dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM), coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) and Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) applications, the company is currently sampling these devices to a select group of candidate partners for value-added distribution.
Initial yields from its VCSEL-based devices are significantly higher than industry trends, providing substantially lower production costs than conventional DFBs. Bandwidth9 intends to produce single-mode VCSELs at costs similar to those of much less capable Fabry-Perot lasers, which are constrained to lower performance multi-mode transmission applications. With modulation rates up to 2.5 Gbps, Bandwidth9 s VCSEL-based devices are ideal for short and intermediate range applications of 2 km to 20 km, where single-mode transmission is required, either on or off the ITU grid. The company also plans to increase the device s modulation capabilities to address emerging 10 GigE markets.
Bandwidth9 intends to partner with fixed laser suppliers to support the expansive distribution requirements of the product in the future. "While our primary focus is on the continued development and deployment of our tunable laser products, the fact is that Bandwidth9 is the only company in the industry with a proven capability of producing fixed wavelength VCSELs in the 1550nm and 1600nm bands," said Jake Weise, Bandwidth9 s vice president of marketing. "By partnering with major optical component suppliers, Bandwidth9 can capitalize on its strong initial fixed wavelength results without detracting from our mission to be the dominant supplier of tunable products for the metro market," adds Weise.
The components are a breakthrough in the long wavelength optical networking bands, based on their low cost wafer-level screening processes and superior single-mode performance. The devices have been tested across entire industrial temperature ranges, and they performed successfully without the need for thermal compensation, thus eliminating associated packaging costs.
Bandwidth9 has the industry s largest manufacturing plant for growing and processing long wavelength VCSELs using an MBE process. As a result, the company is capable of manufacturing more than 100,000 gross devices per month. Currently dedicated to tunable products, the Bandwidth9 expects to expand its plant as necessary to support fixed laser requirements as the demand grows.
About Bandwidth9, Inc. Bandwidth9 is the leading designer and manufacturer of tunable optical components and modules for metropolitan networks. Based on its C and L band Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) and Micro Electro Mechanical Structure (MEMS) technologies, Bandwidth9 s solutions offer unique design flexibility, high tuning precision, metro-optimized performance, and guaranteed reliability for optical systems vendors and their metro carrier customers.
Contact: Margie Bennett, Bandwidth9 Tel: +1-678-812-5007 mbennett@bw9.com
Margie Bennett, Bandwidth9Tel: +1-678-812-5007
mbennett@bw9.com
E-mail: mbennett@bw9.com
