1 July 2013

Finisar and u2t partner to acquire exclusive access to HHI’s 100G coherent modulator technology

Fiber-optic communications component and subsystem maker Finisar Corp of Sunnyvale, CA, USA and u2t Photonics AG of Berlin, Germany, which makes high-speed indium phosphide-based photodetectors and receivers as well as gallium arsenide-based optical modulators, have entered into a memorandum of understanding with respect to exclusive access to and joint development of all indium phosphide (InP)-based Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) technology developed at Berlin-based Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz-Institute (HHI, a research center for communication systems, digital media and services). Finisar and u2t obtain immediate and exclusive access to HHI’s high-speed InP modulators, including polarization multiplexed I-Q modulators for 100G coherent applications. Concurrently, u2t has acquired all of the assets of Berlin-based COGO Optronics GmbH, the former German operating subsidiary of high-speed optical network developer COGO Optronics Inc.

“With the completed acquisition of COGO Optronics GmbH and the memorandum of understanding with Finisar and HHI, u2t has taken a significant step to broaden its portfolio and further strengthen its long-standing collaboration with HHI on high-performance optoelectronic components for the optical communications industry,” says u2t Photonics’ CEO Andreas Umbach.

Finisar and u2t will gain exclusive access to not only HHI’s current InP MZM technology but also future InP MZM technology that will be developed jointly by HHI, Finisar and u2t. “u2t’s local presence and leading technical capabilities and Finisar’s global reach and volume manufacturing strength represent the ideal relationship for the continued development, commercialization, and broad market adoption of HHI’s InP MZM technology,” believes professor Martin Schell, head of HHI’s Photonics Components Department.

“Since 2009, Finisar has worked with COGO and HHI to commercialize HHI’s InP MZM technology in a number of leading 40G and 100G transceiver products,” comments John Clark, Finisar’s executive VP for Technology and Global R&D. “Building on that foundation, we believe this new relationship with u2t and our joint exclusive access to HHI MZM technology will enable the rapid development of new InP MZMs for next-generation 100G coherent long-haul line-cards and pluggable 100G coherent metro transceivers,” he adds. “The u2t team has a solid track record of enabling successive generations of new high-speed fiber-optic equipment with unique receive-side components based on HHI technology. We’re looking forward to a fruitful relationship with u2t to deliver unique transmit-side solutions for data rates of 100G and above.”

Tags: Finisar Mach-Zehnder modulator u2t

Visit: www.finisar.com

Visit: www.u2t.de/en