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Technology Stocks : SDL, Inc. [Nasdaq: SDLI] -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: mariner who wrote (76)	12/21/1998 2:51:00 PM
From: pat mudge	Respond to of 3951

Mariner -- Yes, I still hold JDS Fitel. Haven't sold a single share since my first purchase last spring. I don't really compare it to SDLI as there's little over-lap. JDS is a much broad fiber optics supplier --- SDLI's DWDM products are focused on optical amplifiers and filters for both terrestrial and submarine systems. They also develop silicon. Not sure if JDS does. From SDLI's website: <<< The growing demand for bandwidth in all types of communication networks is causing an increase in the performance, quality and cost requirements of the equipment used to build these networks. The development of fiber optic amplifiers and the implementation of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) are the primary innovations which have enabled fiber optic networks to expand quickly and economically to meet the bandwidth needs of increasing internet, data, video and voice traffic. SDL offers a growing selection of innovative, high-performance products that are key elements in optically amplified, WDM networks as well as Broadband CATV networks. SDL combines world class development and manufacturing expertise in high power semiconductor lasers, fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers and fiber Bragg gratings, to create product solutions that enhance and advance the performance and value of fiber optic networks. Fiber Amplifier Pumps Erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) exhibit superior noise figure performance when pumped by 980 nm laser. This means longer span distances can be designed between repeater amplifiers, which means fewer amplifiers are required for a given link distance, resulting in lower network cost. SDL started manufacturing single mode 980 nm lasers for pumping EDFAs in 1990. Since then, our pump lasers have been used by major telecommunications and CATV equipment manufacturers around the world. SDL has established a substantial reliability history at both the laser chip and fiber-coupled module level with millions of device hours of field deployed products. SDL also pioneered the use of fiber Bragg gratings by developing a patented grating stabilized pump module. Grating stabilization delivers superior wavelength stability and enables precise wavelength specification. Both of these performance characteristics are increasingly important as channel density increases in EDFAs for WDM networks. Wavelength stability is also critical for demanding underseas deployment of 980 nm pumped EDFAs. All SDL standard pump modules feature fiber Bragg grating stabilization. SDLO-2200 Series is a coolerless fiber Bragg grating stabilized pump module. Kink free output powers up to 80 mW are possible without the use of a thermoelectric cooler over a broad temperature range from 0-50 C. Over this temperature range high reliability and electro-optical performance are maintained. Eliminating the cooler reduces the total electrical power required by the pump module by as much as 2W. Grating stabilization maintains the pump module at a constant center wavelength independent of drive current and temperature over the specified range of operation. SDLO-2400 Series features a streamlined optical design that results in improved manufacturing efficiency making this a our most economical pump module. Kink free optical powers up to 110 mW are available in this series. The SDLO-2400 Series features the same high reliability as other SDL pump modules and is supported by extensive qualification and lifetesting data. This pump module series offers an unmatched combination of price and performance. SDLO-2500 Series of pump modules represents the latest evolution in high power pump modules from SDL. As the number of wavelengths being utilized in WDM networks increases, the pump power required to maintain EDFA performance also increases. With kink free optical power up to 165 mW, these modules are designed to meet the most demanding performance needs of a new generation of EDFAs. The SDLO-2500 Series features the SDL-6530 laser chip, the latest generation of high reliability semiconductor lasers from SDL. SDLO-WM Series is a multiplexed pump source that combines the output of up to four pump modules to obtain over 500 mW of kink free power. This source uses low insertion loss wavelength combiners to multiplex our Bragg grating stabilized pump modules at 5 nm spacings, allowing up to 4 modules to be used within the 970-985 nm EDFA pump band. High Power Multi-Mode Pump Lasers SDL has been the worldwide leader in delivering multi-mode pump lasers for a diversity of applications for many years. As new high power optical amplifier technology has developed based on fiber lasers, SDL has developed a pump laser and fiber-coupled module to meet the needs of this emerging technology. Multi-mode lasers can deliver optical powers much greater than single-mode lasers. However, useful operating powers are limited to a range that also delivers high operating reliability. SDL has conducted extensive lifetesting to establish operating conditions that will yield the reliability performance needed for long haul telecommunications deployment. SDLO-4000 Series is a fourteen (14) pin butterfly package that features high reliability at up to 800 mW from a 104 micron core fiber. By combining our extensive experience with 980 nm single-mode pump lasers for EDFAs and 800 nm multimode lasers for diode pumped solid state lasers, we have developed a 920 nm multimode pump lasers for pumping Ytterbium doped fiber lasers. SDL-6360 Series of multimode laser diodes feature a wavelength range from 920-980 nm with reliable laser facet powers up to 1.2 W. High Power DFB Lasers A growing number of communication networks rely on transmitters that use discrete optical modulators. Such transmitter designs have performance advantages for high fidelity analog video transmission as well as high bit rate digital transmission. High power DFB source lasers help overcome the high optical losses of these discrete modulators and they allow a single source laser to be split across a larger number of fiber optic distribution links. SDLO-3000 Series is a high power, narrow linewidth DFB laser operating in the 1550 nm wavelength range at output powers greater than 30 mW. Narrow linewidth (<1 MHz) and low relative intensity noise (RIN < -160 dB/Hz) guarantee excellent signal fidelity in the most demanding video transmission networks. The high optical output power overcomes modulator optical losses while still delivering adequate power to drive an EDFA into saturation. Optical Amplifiers SDL has focused exceptional engineering and design on optical amplifiers for specific applications. This focus has yielded amplifiers with remarkable output power such as the +30 dBm, SDL-FA30, and exceptional performance such as the SDL-FM10 with up to +23 dBm output power and noise figure of 4.5 dB. This same engineering approach delivers tremendous value in amplifiers at lower output powers and enables SDL to offer an unparalleled level of flexibility and performance. SDL-FA30 Series fiber amplifier systems features an industry leading output power in excess of +30 dBm over a wavelength range from 1535 nm to 1565 nm. The SDL-FA30 can be purchased as a stand alone instrument for ease of use in developmental applications or OEM configurations can be specified for integration into larger systems. SDL-FM10 Series of Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers have been specifically designed for analog applications. High output power and low noise figure are combined to deliver high carrier-to-noise ratio in video distribution networks. Output powers are available from +13 to +23 dBm in an amplifier module with standard electrical and mechanical interface. SDL-FM11 Series of Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers are designed for OEM integration into high performance analog or digital communications systems. The OEM designer will appreciate the wide range of output power and the exceptional noise performance available from the FM11. A single connector access to all leads of the internal optoelectronics allows users to integrate the FM11 with their own control, management and alarm electronics. SDL-FM20 Series EDFAs are optimized for use in Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) applications. The standard 40 channel capacity amplifier (+21 dBm) is field upgradable to 64 channels (+23 dBm) or 90 channels (+25 dBm) as system capacity needs increase. The amplifier provides dynamic gain control to operate at the point of optimum gain flatness. Composite output power varies in order to maintain a constant per-channel gain over a wide dynamic range of channel loading. Consequently, the FM20 features full forward compatibility. >>>> From JDSFitel's website: <<< JDS FITEL offers a comprehensive fiberoptic product line for wavelength management and optical networking, including •wavelength division multiplexers •couplers and splitters •isolators, circulators, hybrid isolation components •optical fiber amplifiers •switches •attenuators •dispersion compensators •polarizers •return / insertion loss meters •test systems •interconnect products JDS FITEL products are used within fiberoptic networks to facilitate a variety of optical signal processing applications, such as combining, splitting, switching, filtering, and attenuating light signals passing through a fiberoptic cable. They are also used to test the performance of networks. The products are installed at central switching offices, repeater stations, and end user premises, as well as used by research laboratories, universities, telecommunications equipment manufacturers, and others. >>>> It would be interesting to compare their optical fiber amplifiers, as this seems to be one area of overlap. From JDS' website: <<< JDS FITEL offers a complete range of fiber amplifier products, including passive modules, optical gain blocks, and full function amplifiers. These products were derived from JDS FITEL's expertise in optical subcomponents such as isolators, WDMs, couplers, filters, and hybrid components. •OA Series Optical Amplifier Modules •ErFA-2113B Series Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifiers •Passive Optical Amplifier Modules •OAB915 Benchtop Optical Amplifier •OAB1415 Series Benchtop Optical Amplifiers •ErFA 1200 Series Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifiers •ErFA 1215 PM Polarization Maintaining Fiber Amplifier •BNS1415 Optical Broadband Noise Source •FOL1402 Series 1480 nm High Power Pump Laser Diode Modules >>>>

To: mariner who wrote (76)	1/4/1999 11:30:00 AM
From: pat mudge	Respond to of 3951

News from Fiber Optics Online: >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GLOBAL NEWSWIRE SUMMARY12/29/98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WORK STARTS ON SYDNEY-BRISBANE FIBRE OPTIC NETWORK SYDNEY, Dec 29, 1998 (Asia Pulse via COMTEX)-- Construction of a multi-million dollar fibre optic infrastructure program which eventually will link three Australian state capitals has been started by the telecommunications company Powertel Ltd (ASX: PWT). Powertel, formerly known as Spectrum Global Systems, already has a mobile and landline telephone customer base and plans to build a $A200 million voice, data and video switching network spanning Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Telstra Corp Ltd's infrastructure-building subsidiary, Telstra Network Design and Construction (NDC), has been awarded the contract to carry out the initial phase of the project's first stage- a fibre optic link between Sydney and Brisbane. Engineering specifications and route selection is already in place for the 993 km Brisbane to Newcastle section of the link with work scheduled to commence in January. "We are developing a dedicated fibre optic network on the east coast of Australia with the intent of providing the best and most competitive service to customers," Powertel's chief operating officer Gary Dupler said. "The initial response has been extremely positive, confirming our business objective to provide an alternative inter-capital route." Powertel said its fibre optic network would make a valuable contribution to the nation's existing infrastructure through increased band width between capital cities and a unique route which differentiates from existing fibre optic facilities. The network will also be able to simultaneously handle high growth and new generation services such as the Internet. ASIA PULSE <<<<< <<<< GLOBAL NEWSWIRE SUMMARY12/30/98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHINA ELECTRIC CABLE DEMAND MAY DROP WITH OPTICAL CABLE BEIJING, Dec 30, 1998 (Asia Pulse via COMTEX)-- China's annual demand for electric cable has been kept between 65 and 70 million kilometers but may drop with the entry into the market of optical cable, according to experts. The Chinese government is encouraging the development of such cut-in technologies as FTTC, FTTB and FTTO. As a result, the provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong and Hebei and the municipalities of Tianjin and Beijing have constructed optical fiber cut-in networks on an experimental basis. Market experts predict, however, that such optical networks will not exceed 20% of the national total by the year 2000. Their prediction is based on the following reasons:- Technical progress of the optical fiber cut-in network remains slow. Proportion of copper cable in use remains as high as 94 percent in the world due to the high price of optical fiber and no unified standards for optical network. - Construction cost of optical fiber cut-in network remains high. - Market demand for wide-band telecommunication business is limited. However, some changes may take place after 2000, according to market experts. When the production cost of optical transceiver cable becomes lower, the use of optical cable will certainly increase. Then the demand for electric cable will drop further. >>>>>>

To: mariner who wrote (76)	1/14/1999 1:43:00 AM
From: pat mudge	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3951

Pretty quiet over here. From tonight's Financial Times, an interesting article on another company putting in undersea cable: <<< ecoms Global TeleSystems to buy into sub-sea cable By Alan Cane Global TeleSystems Group (GTS), a US-based telecommunications operator focusing on the European market, is planning to invest in a new, $1bn trans-Atlantic cable system in collaboration with Flag Telecom. Gerald Thames, GTS chief executive, said the new system, the first designed to work at speeds of over a thousand billion bits of information a second, would be critical to GTS's plans to link Europe's leading cities. He rejected suggestions that GTS and Colt, a fast-growing UK-based operator building networks around Europe's financial centres, were in merger talks. "It takes two to tango and nobody's dancing at the moment," he said, although he revealed that the two companies had had inconclusive merger discussions a year ago. Flag, which carries telecoms traffic for over 75 of the world's leading operators, is a privately financed venture which has already created a cable system stretching 27,000km from the UK to Japan. With the addition of the new cable system - Flag Atlantic-1 - the group will cover 40,000km and provide direct access to the telecoms and internet markets of the US and Japan. Financing will be through a combination of equity contributions from GTS and Flag, sales of capacity to customers, but principally through non-recourse bank debt. Mr Thames said yesterday there was no shortage of finance for sub-sea cable ventures like Flag Atlantic-1, as the demand for data transmission capacity across the Atlantic was so great. The new cable system is integral to GTS's plan to become the leading independent operator of telecommunications services for businesses and other carriers in Europe. At the end of last year it bought Esprit, a UK-based operator with its own switches and infrastructure, which had been one of its main European rivals. GTS's principal vehicle is its majority-owned subsidiary Hermes Europe Railtel, which provides trans-border transport services exclusively to telecoms service providers in Europe. Mr Thames said yesterday that the group had already sunk enough fibre cabling in the ground across Europe to carry up to 20 times the total current traffic across the continent. He said that by the end of 1999, GTS would be able to offer long-distance and international services across Europe at a single price. It would be able to offer low prices because, owning a network, it would not have to pay interconnection fees to other carriers. "Our goal by 2003 is to be one of the top two or three pan European carriers," Mr Thames said. >>>>