IP: SEE THE LIGHT BOUNCE: Edupage, March 26, 2001

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> The migration from the current generation of switches to
> all-optical ones will eliminate congestion that results from
> signal conversion. It will also improve network manageability,
> increase capacity, speed provisioning, and facilitate the
> introduction of a variety of new services, according to
> supporters. The technology is the most cost-effective way to
> construct switches, said Gary Austin, general manager of the
> optical switching unit at Lucent Technologies. Lucent has
> invested in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), which are the
> basis for its WaveStar LambdaRouter. Lucent started trials of
> its WaveStar LambdaRouter last summer over a Global Crossing
> network. In addition, Agilent Technologies used the thermal
> ink-jet patents it acquired from its parent company,
> Hewlett-Packard, and partnered with Alcatel to use them for a
> photonic switching technology. The Yankee Group expects MEMS
> technology to grab a 65 percent share of the all-optical switch
> market and for bubble technology to take 20 percent.
> (Interactive Week, 19 March 2001)



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