Infineon Technologies Expands Fiber Optics Portfolio; Introduces Small Form Factor OC-48 Transceivers and High-Integration OC-48 Transponders.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MUNICH, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 14, 2000

Infineon Technologies (FSE/NYSE:IFX), a leading provider of fiber optic components, today introduced a family of single-mode 2.5 Gbps (OC-48 data rate) Small Form Factor transceivers and transponder modules for use in ATM/SONET/SDH telecommunications and data networking systems. The new devices, which include the industry's smallest 2.5 Gbps transceiver and the industry's first and smallest 4:1 transponder, enable network equipment suppliers to deliver high performance, compact systems for broadband communications systems.

The new transceiver and transponder product families are designed to support LAN/WAN applications, such as workstations, servers and storage devices, and are used as components in network bridges, routers, intelligent hubs and ATM switches. Supporting distances up to 2 km, the family of devices feature line monitoring capability such as Rx monitor for telecommunications applications, enabling service providers to prove and control link status and line security.

"We have delivered on our commitment to support the industry's move to higher performance systems by offering faster data rates, smaller size and higher integration solutions," said Dag Neumeuer, vice president of the fiber optics group at Infineon Technologies. "With a compact design and low power consumption, these devices enable equipment suppliers to build the next generation communications systems in a highly competitive optical market."

Transceivers Are World's Fastest Small Form Factor Device

The Small Form Factor package, which is 50 percent more compact than current SC-duplex transceivers, doubles port density in network equipment. The modules operate on a 3.3 V power supply to significantly reduce power consumption and include a LC-receptacle.

The two versions of the transceiver, packaged in full-metal housing for optimized EMI behavior and configured with standard 2x10 pin outs, are available now in sample quantities with production volume scheduled for 4th quarter 2000. The V23818-N15-L17 is DC/DC terminated and PECL compatible. The V23818-N15-L353 is AC/AC terminated and signals detect on TTL and priced at approximately $490.

High Integration Transponders Support High Speed Data Rates

The V23816-N1018-C310 transponder module supports next generation high-end router equipment and can upgrade the data rates of existing OC-3 and OC-12 routers by as much as four times for current OC-12 routers. The transponder features an integrated clock synthesis, recovery circuit and mux/demux for four electrical channels at 622 Mbps.

The compact 2.3-in. x 1.6-in. x 0.54-in device, which features a 2x30 pin-out configuration and typical power consumption of 2.9 W (from a 3.3 V power supply), supports port densities that enable suppliers to produce terabit data rate routers. The transponder is a repluggable solution for easy and fast assembly and is packaged in full-metal housing for optimum EMI performance. Samples will be available in the fourth quarter 2000 with production scheduled for the first quarter of 2001. Pricing is approximately $1500, depending on volume.

The new products complement Infineon's extensive portfolio of standards compliant broadband transceiver and transponder components. The company's product line includes a full-range of single-mode and multimode optical data transmission and data connectivity accessories supporting Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, ATM and fiber optic components. These include the SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) and global SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) optical media standards, which define Optical Carrier (or OC) data rates from 51.84 Mbps (OC-1) to 9.953 Gbps (OC-192). ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) is a data transmission standard that runs within SONET/SDH networks.

About Infineon

Infineon Technologies AG, Munich, Germany, offers semiconductor solutions for applications in the wireless and wired communications markets, for the automotive and industrial sectors, for security systems and chip cards as well as memory products. With a global presence, Infineon operates in the US from San Jose, CA, and in the Asia-Pacific region from Singapore. In the fiscal year 1999 (ending September), the company achieved sales of Euro 4.24 billion (US $ 4.51 billion) with about 26,000 employees worldwide. Infineon is listed on the DAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX). Further information is available at www.infineon.com.

Abbrevations:

AC/AC  Alternating Current                 DC/DC   Direct Current
EMI    Electromagnetic Interference        Gbps    Gigabit per second
Mbps   Megabit per second                  OC-     Optical Carrier
PECL   Positive Emitter Collector Logic