REPEAT/AFC's Fiber Amplifier Breaks Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexer -- DWDM -- Bandwidth Barrier.

OTTAWA/HULL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 1, 1998--

Duo Band Fiber Amplifiers Create A Doubled Dimension For Hosting DWDM Channels From 1.5 to 1.6 micron

AFC Technologies Inc. announced today the launch of its SystemReady line of optical amplifier modules for ultra high capacity Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) systems. The product line includes an Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) operating in the conventional 1528 to 1563 nm wavelength window, and an Extended Band Fiber Amplifier (EBFA) that offers DWDM channels another 40 nm of bandwidth from 1570 to 1610 nm.

Packaged in rugged compact cases with identical microchip control circuit and serial interface, both modules have been designed for DWDM transmission, with features such as gain flattening and constant per channel power against Add/Drop situation.

"This is the first time that optical amplifier modules with such a wide operating wavelength range (a total of 75 nm) are commercially available in North America," says Dr. Dan Yang, Chief Technology Officer. Optical amplifier is the enabler of DWDM transmission technology. However, conventional EDFAs have only a limited 35 nm bandwidth available to accommodate WDM channels, compared with 100 nm window from 1.5 to 1.6 micron offered by the transmission fiber, where the fiber exhibits minimum attenuation. As a consequence, not only EDFAs limit system integrators to put more channels and transmit more data and voice information, but also, by laying channels closely one against each other, the system suffers large inter-channel crosstalk problems. One specific crosstalk, nonlinear inter-channel interference, is even more severe in the Dispersion Shifted Fiber, due to its close-to-zero chromatic dispersion around 1550 nm. "The introduction of the Duo EDFA and EBFA has eliminated completely the barrier of bandwidth set by EDFA. It has created a new dimension to accommodate new DWDM channels, which can now be twice as many," continues Dr. Yang. "Plus, the 1590 nm EBFA solves the problem of nonlinear crosstalk for DWDM channels carried by Dispersion Shifted Fiber, as by shifting the transmission window from 1550 nm to 1590 nm, chromatic dispersion is slightly increased. This increase, while still small enough to accept OC-48 or OC-192 channels, is sufficient to increase the threshold of Four Wave Mixing, the cause of nonlinear crosstalk."

The concept of using separate, yet 100% compatible duo modules, instead of a single broadband amplifier, provides flexibility for system integrators or service providers, as network planners can always start with one bandwidth, and add the other one "on-demand." "It also makes existing EDFA-based DWDM system upgrade more cost effective, as original EDFAs can be kept in place and continue their service. If the upgrade is via single broadband amplifiers, installed EDFAs have to be replaced completely," Yang adds.

About AFC Technologies Inc.

AFC Technologies Inc. is a privately owned, Canada's capital region based young and fast growing company specialized in optical amplifier technology. The company started the Broadband project 2 years ago and has successfully introduced and marketed series of broadband amplifiers as well as amplifier based gain re-shaped broadband sources for WDM sensor networks and optical CDMA. The company manufactures also the only low cost 1300 nm optical amplifier for SONET/SDH.

    CONTACT:  AFC Technologies Inc.
               Stephen Cline, 819/776-6884
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