RED-C Introduces the Sentior 27000, a Key Milestone for Reconfigurable Dynamic Networks; Two Independent Variable Gain Stages Packaged Together for Ultimate Flexibility.

CHICAGO -- RED-C Optical Networks Ltd. (www.red-c.com), a leading provider of Locally Controlled Subsystems based on optical amplification technology, has today announced the commercial availability of the Sentior 27000, a state-of-the-art East/West Variable Gain EDFA designated to serve as a key technology in reconfigurable dynamic optical networks.

The Sentior 27000 East/ West VG EDFA comprises two completely independent Variable Gain stages, ensuring maximum flexibility and ability to adjust to different network conditions. The two independent Variable Gain stages allow the deployment of the amplifier in systems supporting East/ West separation. This configuration is essential to avoid a single point of failure, where the failure of a single module could affect both the normal and protection data paths, thus leading to a critical system failure. By packaging two independent Variable Gain EDFA stages within a single module and interconnecting the pre-amplifier stage from one module (East or West) to the booster stage from a second module (West or East), the RED-C Sentior 27000 ensures that each data path (normal and protection) depends on only a single module, and not on both modules.

The Sentior 27000 is designed to accommodate an integrated OCM, thus providing a smooth upgrade path to the full functionality of RED-Cs advanced Self Managed EDFA, whose features include, amongst others: Closing the spectral loop of the EDFA; Providing network management with accurate and updated channel power and OSNR measurements; On line calibration of the OCM unit; and reduction of space and cost requirements.

The Sentior 27000 can also be configured to work as two completely independent single-stage VG amplifiers, so that two single stage VG amplifiers can be packaged in a single module, leading to significant cost and space savings.

Yossi Boker, RED-C's President and CEO, comments: "The senior 27000, currently being shipped to selected customers, provides a comprehensive solution to the challenges associated with the deployment of active optical switching technology, such as ROADM. It comprises an important addition to RED-C portfolio of high end optical amplifier modules and subsystems, which together provide our customers with the building blocks necessary for building future, reconfigurable dynamic networks."

About RED-C

RED-C Optical Networks Ltd. (www.red-c.com) specializes in the design, development and production of a comprehensive line of optical amplifiers, including the world only Self-Managed EDFA, the widely-deployed Dynamic (Variable-Gain) EDFA, the pioneering Gain-Switched Variable-Gain EDFA and the Class 1M laser product Raman Amplifier and various single-stage amplifiers. Relying on its multi-disciplinary expertise and its technological edge, RED-C's amplifiers are designed to provide system vendors with enhanced performance and special features. RED-C's products are shipped to leading system - vendors and are widely deployed world-wide.

For further details please visit RED-C booth 39063 at GLOBALCOMM 2006, June 5-7 at McCormick Place, Chicago, IL.