INDUSTRY

BALTIMORE, MD -- Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT)(TSE:NT.) has launched a range of new optical components designed to help providers of equipment for metropolitan optical networks and network edge systems eliminate bandwidth bottlenecks. Announced at the 2001 National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference (NFOEC), these components will address many of the key issues in today's metropolitan market by offering reduced device sizes, higher levels of functional integration, lower power dissipation, greater network simplicity, and lower network costs. "Our focus is on continuing a tradition of photonic innovations and leadership through cost-effective optical solutions," said Barbara Callaghan, president, Optical Components, Nortel Networks. "We are using the technology and automation expertise gained through our leadership in the long haul, 10-Gigabit optical components market to develop solutions for the metro market. We understand the needs of metropolitan networking vendors, and we are addressing those that matter most to them - size, power, simplicity and cost." "We work closely with optical networking vendors, putting us in position to fully understand system requirements and undertake concurrent development," Callaghan said. "Our portfolio will offer solutions for both the client and line sides of the metropolitan optical network, and will include tunable and continuous wave transmitters, transmitter modules, receivers, transponder modules, amplifiers, and variable optical attenuators." Nortel Networks new metro optical components will provide fiber to packet interface solutions, taking information from physical optical layer devices through framing and protocol handling to the network processor interface. Nortel Networks launched 14 metro optical components and modules at NFOEC, including: - a 2.5 gigabits per second (Gbps) buried heterostructure transmitter, featuring maximum reach of 175 kilometers with minimum dispersion penalty - a 10 Gbps APD Preamp Receiver with best-in-class performance and very low cost for fast return on investment - a 1310 nanometer 10 Gbps Transponder Module with very low power dissipation, and a footprint smaller than a business card to address board and rack level space constraints - a Multi-Wavelength Gain Module, featuring a compact amplifier and integrated variable optical attenuator - 10-Gigabit Ethernet Switch Router solutions, enabling simple, very high speed, low cost access to dark fiber and DWDM (dense wavelength-division multiplexing) optical infrastructure "The metro market is an area of comparatively strong growth," said John Lively, director, Optical Components, at RHK, a leading industry research firm. "With its automation and technology experience, allied with its in-depth understanding of the needs of optical systems vendors, Nortel Networks has the opportunity to lead the emerging optical metro components market." For more information visit www.nortelnetworks.com