Finisar Demos 17G VCSEL for FC

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Continuing to leverage two decades of leadership in the development of core technologies for optical communication networks, Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ: FNSR) today announced several important technology demonstrations at the 2008 Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC/NFOEC) in San Diego. Finisar will unveil the first public demonstrations of three products:

Finisar will demonstrate a complete optical link utilizing a 17 Gbps directly modulated Vertical Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser ( VCSEL) over multimode fiber. This 17 Gbps VCSEL line rate is required to support the 16G Fibre Channel payload, and will enable the next generation of Fiber Channel optical transceivers. Designed upon Finisar's proven keystones for success in the optical market -- high reliability, high performance, and low Total Cost of Ownership -- the 17 Gbps VCSEL establishes the viability of the 16G Fiber Channel standard with multimode optical fiber.

In 1996, Finisar developed the first commercially available 1 Gbps VCSEL, a key component providing the modulated light transmitted over optical fiber cabling. Since then, Finisar has become the largest datacom VCSEL supplier in the world, with over 70 million VCSELs deployed in the field and today continues its commitment to the Fiber Channel industry through the innovation and development of advanced optical technologies.

"There is a significant difference between achieving 17G under controlled laboratory conditions and demonstrating a reliable implementation in a public environment such as OFC," said Joe Young, general manager of optics at Finisar. "This particular demonstration proves the viability of the optical components required to develop the 16G Fiber Channel standard and positions Finisar as a key contributor to the standard's ongoing development."Finisar Corp.