Agilent Technologies Ships 10 Gb XFP Optical Transceivers

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced it is shipping three new XFP fiber optic transceivers targeted at 10 Gbps enterprise, storage, and telecom networking applications. These transceiver modules allow customers to scale port densities from high-end, multi-port routers and switches to single-port network interface cards and host bus adapters. Initial deployments include 10 km links over single-mode fiber between corporate campuses and between large corporate sites and the local telephone exchange.

“Our proven ability to ship high-quality optical transceivers in very high volumes is enabling us to capture a market-leading position at 10 Gb,” said Tom Fawcett, director of marketing for the Fiber Optic Products Division in Agilent’s Semiconductor Products Group. “These new XFP modules provide low power operation and high margins to the FCC’s EMC specifications, which allows our customers to increase system bandwidth by packing more modules per line card.”

“Agilent is a leading provider of XENPAK and X2 fiber optic transceiver modules, and today’s announcement positions them well for the sweet spot in the XFP market -- 10km transmission links,” said Daryl Innis, vice president of Ovum-RHK’s Communication Components advisory service. “Ovum-RHK believes the XFP form factor will ultimately dominate the 10Gbps volume war because it provides the lowest cost solution, has the small size needed for high-density line cards, and will be used in multiple markets.”

The Agilent 10GBASE-LR pluggable transceiver modules are compliant to rev. 4.0 of the XFP multi-source agreement (MSA). They feature the XFI serial interface along with superior thermal, EMI and 3.3 V low power operation -- all which enable higher-density, lower-cost line cards than XAUI (10GbE) transceivers and 300-pin (OC-192) transponders. The Agilent modules are designed for single-mode fiber and operate at a nominal wavelength of 1310 nm.

The modules’ transmitter section uses an uncooled, directly modulated 1310 nm distributed feedback laser. The receiver section uses Agilent’s MOVPE-grown planar SEDET PIN photo detector for low dark current and excellent responsivity. Integrated Tx and Rx eye openers provide high jitter-tolerance and low jitter-generation for full XFI compliance. The internally AC-coupled high-speed serial I/O simplifies interfacing to external circuitry. The electrical interface is made using an industry-standard 0.8 mm pitch 30-pin right angle connector, while the optical connection is made via the duplex LC connector.

The Agilent 10GBASE-LR XFP product line also includes a comprehensive set of digital diagnostic features. The 1310 nm modules are offered in three versions:

oThe HFCT-711XPD supports Ethernet 10 GBASE-LR (10 km LAN PHY, 10.3125 Gb/s); Fibre Channel 10 Gb serial PMD, type 1200-SM-LL-L, (10 km 10.51875 Gbps); SONET/SDH (OC-192/STM-64 rate 9.9532 Gbps); Telcordia GR-253-CORE SR-1; and ITU-T G.691 STM64 I64.1.

oHFCT-721XPD is an Ethernet and Fibre Channel only version.

oHFCT-741XPD supports Ethernet 10 GBASE-LR (10 km LAN PHY, 10.3125 Gb/s); Fibre Channel 10 Gb serial PMD, type 1200-SM-LL-L, (10 km 10.51875 Gbps); and STM-64 rate 9.9532 Gbps.

Agilent has a long history as a technology leader in fiber optic transceivers. Agilent led the development of the 10 Gb Ethernet XENPAK transceiver module and was instrumental in the IEEE 10GbE standardization process. The company then followed up with strong participation in the X2 and XFP MSA groups. Agilent is now leading the IEEE 802.3aq task force, which is defining the 10GBASE-LRM standard for using electronic dispersion compensation (EDC) with 10 Gbps serial Ethernet fiber optic transceivers to economically drive 300-meter transmissions over legacy multimode fiber.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

Both the Agilent HFCT-711XPD and HFCT-741XPD optical transceiver modules are available now in production quantities through Agilent’s direct sales channel. The HFCT-711XPD is sampling now with production quantities available in the fourth quarter of 2005. Pricing is available on request.

About Agilent’s Fiber Optic Module Solutions

Agilent Technologies is a leading provider of active fiber optic transceiver modules that address enterprise, storage, metro and long-haul applications. Agilent also offers a broad portfolio of transmitters and receivers supporting the active fiber optic module needs in industrial and automotive applications. Agilent’s patented manufacturing and testing procedures produce the industry’s most reliable devices, and the company’s support and order fulfillment organizations provide unmatched service and delivery worldwide. More information is available at www.agilent.com/view/networking.