Santel Networks Test Shows Significant Signal Enhancement After PMD Impairment.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NEWARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 12, 2002

Company Announces Results of Electronic Dispersion Compensator Testing

Against JDS Uniphase Higher Order PMD Emulator

Santel Networks, a provider of high-speed optical networking PHY ICs, today announced that it has performed tests of its proof-of-concept electronic dispersion compensation (EDC) unit that prove that the device compensates for high levels of impairment due to polarization mode dispersion (PMD). PMD is a significant impediment to the deployment of communication service on legacy optical fiber and at high data rates. Along with chromatic dispersion (CD), PMD can limit the distance that optical signals can travel. Santel's results were achieved through recent testing of its unit against the JDS Uniphase Higher Order PMD Emulator.

"We now have actual measurement data covering a wide range of combinations of first and second order PMD," said Anil Gandhi, Santel Sr. Director of Optical Systems. "The performance we achieved in this test is significant, given the prototype status of our proof-of-concept EDC unit. We expect higher gain from our next product release, which will be sampling soon."

Santel is the first company to test an electronic dispersion compensator with the JDS Uniphase Higher Order PMD Emulator. Test measurements demonstrated signal gains in excess of 6db Q at the worst-case combination of 80ps first order and 3800ps(2) second order polarization mode dispersion. A gain of that amount represents a significant opening of the eye pattern, which is an instrumentation-based indicator of signal quality.

The test of the Santel EDC prototype with the JDS Uniphase Higher Order PMD emulator is part of a broad range of efforts to thoroughly validate the performance of Santel's new technology under a wide range of conditions. "Demonstration of performance using our proof-of-concept prototype is an important step in establishing the effectiveness and value of electronic dispersion compensation to module and system vendors in the optical transport space," said Gandhi. "It's crucial to emulate the variety of impairments encountered in the field and confirm effectiveness of compensation technology." The company has made a substantial investment in optical characterization and test bed capabilities.

Santel's unique and entirely electronic technology provides a solution to optical channel induced distortions that is simple and cost-effective compared to optically-based compensation solutions. The use of an electronic compensator permits the elimination of certain dispersion compensation modules (DCMs) and polarization controllers, and permits use of simplified optical architectures including lower cost, lower power active optical components in metro and long haul systems. Santel's technology provides a single solution for mitigating impairments from PMD and CD, which may otherwise limit the reach of optical systems, impair quality-of-service levels or prevent deployment of service on legacy fiber.

The JDS Higher Order PMD Emulator provides extremely well calibrated first and second order PMD values. Specific static settings or dynamic distributions can be selected via a convenient software interface. For more information on this product, contact [e-mail].

About Santel Networks, Inc.

Founded in 2000, Santel Networks is a privately held development stage company headquartered in Newark, California. Santel Networks investors include Bessemer Venture Partners, Crescendo Ventures, Thomas Weisel Venture Partners, Tyco Ventures, Satwik Venture Capital Partners, Pacesetter Group, and others. For more information, please visit www.santelnet.com.