Any one catch this news?
Tuesday December 14, 4:37 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Finisar Announces Breakthrough in Digital Return
Path System for CATV
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 14, 1999--Finisar Corporation
(Nasdaq: FNSR - news), a leading provider of high-speed fiber optic subsystems and
network performance test systems for data communications, today announced the development of a new digital optical system
that upgrades CATV networks for reverse path digital transmission that enables two-way interactive services.
Finisar has developed a node-mounted optical transmitter sub-system that digitizes the entire RF return band including the
output of set-top, data, and telephony modems. Finisar has also developed a digital optical receiver sub-system for installation
in hubs or headends. Through the use of novel digital signal processing technology developed by the company, this new digital
return path sub-system delivers the surprising combination of extremely low bit-error-rate and improved system economics.
This new approach offers a more cost effective way of quickly upgrading the return path, while enhancing the performance of
the network. The current approach to upgrading the return path relies on analog components to bring signals from the home
back to the headend. The problem with this approach is that the return path becomes highly susceptible to noise ingress, signal
to noise degradation, and reflections from splices and connector imperfections. The result is reduced performance, especially
over longer distances and temperature extremes.
''I think it is important for everyone to realize that we are using much of the technology we have developed for data
communications to address this opportunity in CATV. We have applied our core competencies in high-speed digital fiber
optics and digital signal processing to solve an old problem for a new set of customers,'' said Jerry Rawls, President and CEO.
''This digital approach eliminates a lot of headaches associated with upgrading the CATV return path,'' said Frank Levinson,
founder and Chief Technology Officer of Finisar. ''The typical parameters which CATV engineers must closely monitor such as
bit error rates for a modem data channel, dynamic range and NPR, CNR, CSO and CTB all degrade over distance. This is not
the case with our approach. We can go 30km and still be impervious to connector flaws and scratches. Digital is much more
forgiving than analog in almost every aspect of network design.''
''And that's just the beginning,'' Frank added. ''This approach allows for a much richer network architecture in which status
monitoring is built-in and ''grooming'' is possible. This means that individual lines coming into a node can be automatically
directed to different fibers on the return path for load balancing or for isolating portions of the network. It also sets the stage for
aggregating return path signals and reducing the number of fibers from the hub to the headend.''
The new Finisar digital return path sub-system will be demonstrated by at least one CATV equipment supplier at the Western
Cable Show in Los Angeles, December 14 - 16. Industry veteran, Bill Ellis, now Manager of Broadband Product Engineering
at Finisar observed, ''The digital return path solution that has been developed by Finisar cures a number of ills associated with
the return path in a CATV network. The economics of this approach are very attractive when compared to a pure analog
solution, while offering enhanced performance and functionality. The Finisar return path solution should greatly reduce future
network operating costs. Not surprisingly, many CATV equipment suppliers have recently made the trip to Sunnyvale to see
what we have done.''
The company indicated that its digital transmitters and receivers can be easily customized to meet different optical node
packaging requirements for OEMs.
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