Finisar Demonstrates Dual 1x20 Wavelength Selective Switch at OFC/NFOEC 2013

SUNNYVALE, CA--(Marketwire - Mar 19, 2013) - Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ: FNSR), the world leader in flexible optical technology, today demonstrated several new products for telecom applications, including a Dual 1x20 Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) incorporating the Flexgrid™ functionality pioneered by Finisar and the industry's first DML-based PRX40 OSA for 10G-EPON. Finisar's WSS devices enable networks to dynamically evolve with changing standards so that systems equipment OEMs can provide the performance, dynamic flexibility, and scalability required for both today's and tomorrow's networks. Demonstrations will take place during OFC/NFOEC in Finisar's booth #2405 at the Anaheim Convention Center, March 19-21, 2013.

The WSS demonstration shows a single device with dual independent 1x20 and 20x1 wavelength selective switching in a compact module for high degree and colorless, directionless, contentionless (CDC) Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) nodes. This device, as well as the entire WSS portfolio, features wide passbands, low insertion loss and, Flexgrid™ technology including hitless widening/narrowing of channels and intra-channel attenuation for equalization across a super channel with high-resolution control. The Dual 1x20 WSS is the same size as the current 1x20 WSS and also built upon Finisar's Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) technology. 

Finisar also demonstrated the Triplexer OSA, the industry's first DML-based PRX40 OSA for 10G-EPON. With a transmission reach up to 20km, the Triplexer OSA will cost-effectively provide both higher optical power (5dBm to 9dBm) than current EML devices and a higher link budget to enable split ratios greater than 1:64. The Triplexer OSA is shown in an XFP module, but can be packaged into any form factor required.

The Dual 1x20 WSS will be the latest addition to the industry's most comprehensive portfolio of Flexgrid™ modules. Finisar provides WSS technology to meet the needs of every application, with switching up to 20 ports using a single device, small form factor options ideal for low-cost network edge applications, and wide channel plan support (10G, 40G, 100G, 400G) for current and future high-speed applications. 

Finisar's Flexgrid™ WSS devices are also ITU G.694.1 flexible DWDM grid compliant to prevent network operators from being locked into existing 50 and 100 GHz ITU grids and therefore unable to deploy emerging technologies in a timely and cost-effective fashion. Flexible grid technology also provides a reliable means for systems equipment OEMs to enable greater spectral efficiency no matter how technology advances by dynamically supporting more narrow channel spacing while maintaining data rates or, where appropriate, wider channels to accommodate higher data rates, including 400G. In this way, network administrators can reallocate spectral resources and optimize channel spacing to address the needs of legacy and new equipment using a single WSS.

"Finisar is a long-standing leader in this industry, with a rich history of innovation and the market's broadest portfolio of products tailored to meet the increasing demands of operators across telecom, service provider, and enterprise optical networks," said Ken Falta, senior marketing director of WSS products, Finisar. "Our WSS products provide the flexibility networks need to meet the changing demands placed upon them without requiring frequent and higher infrastructure investment to increase capacity."

In addition to the Dual 1x20 WSS and Triplexer OSA, Finisar is demonstrating several emerging datacom technologies, including new 10 km CPF2 optical transceiver modules. Finisar will also have on display optical products from its wide portfolio, including its latest optical transceivers, active cables, WSS devices, advanced optical components, amplifiers, and passive devices.

About Finisar
Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ: FNSR) 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 25 years, Finisar has provided critical optics technologies to system manufacturers to meet the increasing demands for network bandwidth. Finisar is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, USA with R&D, manufacturing sites, and sales offices worldwide. For additional information, visit www.finisar.com.

Finisar-G