Bookham relationships:
TM of NN has an ownership position in Bookham!
techweb.com
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Intel, Cisco Invest In Optical
Pioneer
(12/01/98, 11:03 a.m. ET)
By Peter Clarke, EE Times
Intel and Cisco Systems have each invested about
$10 million for minority stakes in Bookham
Technology, a pioneer in the use of silicon for
making optical and opto-electronic components.
Intel and Cisco are each believed to have received a
little more than 5 percent of Bookham in return for
their investments.
Bookham has developed a technology called
ASOC, an approach analogous to the design and
manufacture of electronic ASICs, which can be
used to form optical circuits on silicon chips.
The company has been manufacturing optical ICs
at a purpose-built wafer fab here since May.
"This investment from Intel reinforces our belief that
ASOC is the future of optical networking," said
Andrew Rickman, CEO of Bookham, which is
based in Milton, England. "At a time when the
semiconductor industry is experiencing significant
set-backs, it is reassuring to see that major players
like Intel and Cisco see a bright future for Bookham
Technology.
"Last year we raised about the same amount from
numerous sources to help build our manufacturing
capability," Rickman said. "This further $20 million
will speed the introduction of products to be made in
the factory."
At present Bookham is manufacturing optical
components for use in access networks and in
dense wavelength division multiplexing. Rickman
said new product introductions would be in the
same area but offering greater integration.
Rickman said there were no particular product
plans with Intel or Cisco that he could discuss.
"Our general strategy is that photonics will merge
with mainstream electronics. There's already great
demand for opto in the backplanes of equipment
such as routers and switches. In the longer term
the concept of photonics and electronics merged on
the chip is something we firmly believe in."
"The investment makes sense for Intel as the more
use of the Internet is encouraged the more
computers will be sold," he added.
In addition, Rickman said, "Cisco has a very public
strategy on optical networks. They are saying that if
you can deliver enough bandwidth you can bypass
a lot of ATM and Sonet stuff and deliver Internet
Protocol over fiber."
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