Michael F. Donadio:Agilent's new photonic switch:
agilent.com
Introducing the Agilent Photonic Switching Platform
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ agilent.com
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Agilent's Photonic Switching Platform
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ makes the dreams of the all-optical network a reality.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ In a clear example of necessityÿ being the mother of invention,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Agilent Technologies unveiled aÿ unique solution to the surging
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ demand for communicationsÿ bandwidth and speed. Called
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ the Agilent Photonic Switchingÿ Platform, the company?s new
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ system finally enables what areÿÿ called ?all-optical networks.?
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Communications traffic in 2002 is expected to be 17
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ times greater than it was in 1998, according to Ryan,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Hankin and Kent, a leading communications analyst
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ firm. Bandwidth demand is surging because of the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ rapidly increasing number of users, higher
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ communications access speeds, longer connection
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ times, and the use of rich media, such as audio, video
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ and high-resolution graphics. Accommodating that
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ demand requires all-optical networks, and that?s where
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Agilent?s Photonic Switch Platform comes in.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Based on a blending of two reliable technologies ?
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ inkjet and planar lightwave circuits ? Agilent?s photonic
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ switch reroutes an optical stream from one path to
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ another without having to convert the signal from
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ optical, to electronic, and back to optical. With
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Agilent?s switching platform, the signal is always
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ optical.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ agilent.com
ÿÿ ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Switch Fabric -- a unique combination of inkjet andÿÿÿÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ planar lightwave circuits.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Here?s how it works. Multiple optical paths, or wave
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ guides, are created in the planar-lightwave circuits
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ (PLC), intersecting at several cross points. At those
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ cross points, the light travels through a fluid with the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ same optical properties as the wave guide. As a
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ result, the optical stream, and its communications
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ contents, travel unimpeded through the cross point.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ However, when the optical signal needs to be
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ rerouted, a bubble is inserted - using inkjet technology
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ - into the cross point. The bubble displaces the fluid
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ and alters the optical properties of the cross point.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ This causes the light to be reflected along a new path.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ These bubbles can be formed and removed hundreds
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ of times per second, providing a fast and reliable
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ switching function, one that uses neither mirrors nor
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ mechanical moving parts.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Agilent?s Photonic Switching Platform is a key
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ subsystem in a variety of all-optical network
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ subsystems currently under development by network
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ equipment manufacturers. These systems help create
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ high-bandwidth networks that are easier for service
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ providers to manage and maintain.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Agilent?s components meet the industry?s expectations
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ for a fast, low-loss technology that can accommodate
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ changing bit rates and communications protocols
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ without having to be modified or upgraded.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Formerly part of Hewlett-Packard Company, and now
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ a subsidiary, Agilent Technologies and its scientists
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ and engineers have a solid record of achievement in
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ the area of photonic and optical technologies. Even as
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ it unveiled this latest success, its research and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ development in next-generation photonic technologies
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ continues unabated.ÿ
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agilent.com
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agilent.com
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Message #1400 from Michael F. Donadio at Mar 6 2000 3:36PM
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Today's big news for Agilent may be equally big for Alcatel with last Friday's announcement. What do you think Steve?
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ biz.yahoo.com
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Agilent Technologies' Breakthrough Photonic Switch to Revolutionize
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Multi-billion-dollar Telecom Industry]
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Move Underscores Agilent's Role in Developing the Enabling Communications Products To Increase Capacity on World's Busiest Communications
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Networksÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 6, 2000-- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A - news) announced today an advanced, cost-effective
optical
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ technology that could revolutionize the multi-billion-dollar communications industry. Called the Agilent Photonic Switching Platform, the new
technology is
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ capable of routing communications traffic without the costly conversion from photons to electrons and back to photons.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ This ability to manage communications traffic in the optical domain has long been considered the vital ``missing link' for the long-awaited,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ next-generation all-optical network. By eliminating the equipment needed to translate the basic light signals into electrical signals for the purpose of
routing
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ those signals, significant improvements in capacity and reductions in cost can be realized.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Invented by scientists at Agilent Laboratories, the photonic switch is based on a blend of two reliable technologies -- inkjet and planar lightwave
circuits.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ``Agilent is poised to lead a significant revolution in communications,' said Ned Barnholt, president and CEO of Agilent. ``The Agilent Photonic
Switching
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Platform is just one excellent example of how Agilent is not just sparking that revolution but leading it. Our customers told us that the one missing
ingredient
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ in making the all-optical network a reality was a cost-effective, reliable optics layer switching technology. The photonic switch is our response and the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ solution to the problem. It will help drive a significant market evolution while enabling our customers to deliver a brand new class of services.'ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Agilent's new platform, to be unveiled tomorrow at the Optical Fiber Communications Conference and Exhibit 2000 in Baltimore, is already in trials
with several
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ industry leaders for integration into the world's most complex communications network elements. It is expected that once deployed, this new way of
managing
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ information may hold the key to unlocking the vast, untapped potential of a totally wired world because the photonic switch will enable the
cost-effective delivery
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ of a new generation of digitally based services in communications, entertainment and business.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ According to industry analysts, fiber-optic networks are nearly stretched to capacity by the burgeoning demands of a digital workplace and sprawling
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ e-commerce sites.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Experts predict that more users, higher access speeds, longer connection times and richer media mean network traffic will double every nine to 12
months,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ making a new generation of fast-moving, optical switches imperative. According to Ryan, Hankin and Kent, a leading communications analyst firm, the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ load carried by optical networks will have grown an estimated 28 fold between 1996 and 2002. The firm also projects the need for optical networking
equipment
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ will expand from $15 billion in 2000 to some $40 billion in 2003.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ By providing a totally new and potentially far more reliable approach to handling optical traffic, the Agilent Photonic Switching Platform will allow
network
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ equipment manufacturers to accelerate the time to market for all-optical network elements. In turn, their customers -- telecommunications carriers -- will
be able
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ to keep up with the increased demand. With the new switching platform, the industry will be able to speed up network traffic -- and improve the user
experience --
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ for e-commerce, e-mail, video conferencing, global business and other key optical applications.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ The switching platform, which includes the first two commercial photonic switches ever created by Agilent -- a 32 x 32 port photonic switch and a dual
16 x 32
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ port photonic switch, is based on Agilent technology that uses an innovative combination of reliable inkjet and planar lightwave circuit technologies. It
is the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ largest switch of its kind with no moving parts, resulting in less wear and longer life.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ U.S. Availabilityÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Commercial prototypes of the Agilent Photonic Switching Platform will be available by the end of 2000.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Alcatel demonstrating its leadership. It seems a bargain at the current price,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Michael |
