New Product Recognized for Enabling Revolutionary Raman Amplification For
Fiber Optic Communications
SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- SDL, Inc. (Nasdaq: SDLI) today
announced that its new Raman pump laser module, the SDL-RL30-1455, was chosen
as the winner of the Laser Focus World 2000 Commercial Technology Achievement
award in the fiberoptics/optoelectronic components category. This new product
was designed for use in advanced fiber optic systems that utilize distributed
Raman amplification in conjunction with dense wavelength division multiplexing
(DWDM). The award, to be given during the Photonics West conference in
San Jose, California on January 26, 2000, recognizes new products of
exceptional commercial significance that were introduced between October 1998
and September 1999.
The RL30-1455 is currently being installed to provide optical
amplification in undersea fiber optic systems. The RL30-1455, which is
located on-shore, extends the transmission distance in such systems.
Supplying equipment for undersea fiber optic systems is one of SDL's fastest
growing communications markets.
Eight companies in the terrestrial telecommunications market are also
believed to be actively evaluating the new product. Terrestrial systems using
distributed Raman amplification are expected to benefit from higher data
transmission rates. Specifically, Raman amplification is believed to be a key
technology utilized in next generation 40Gb/sec DWDM systems. In addition,
Raman amplification offers the potential of increased system data capacity by
allowing amplification between 1300 and 1650 nm, thereby supporting a greater
number of wavelength channels.
According to Donald R. Scifres, chairman and chief executive officer, "We
are extremely pleased to have won this prestigious honor. The Laser Focus
World 2000 Commercial Technology Achievement award shows that the technical
community recognizes the ability of our leading edge technology to
substantially expand the capabilities of communications networks. This award
reinforces our decision to make distributed Raman amplification a focus
technology that will help to expand our product line to respond to the
expected growing demand for telecommunications and Internet bandwidth."
Raman amplification differs radically from conventional discrete erbium
doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) used in existing DWDM systems today.
Distributed Raman amplification utilizes installed optical transmission fiber
as the amplification medium rather than erbium doped fiber. Raman
amplification occurs in the 1550 nm wavelength band when the transmission
fiber is pumped with very high optical power at approximately 1455 nm.
Therefore, by using a high-powered pump source such as the 1.5 watt
SDL-RL30-1455, the transmission fiber itself will provide amplification. This
allows "distributed" amplification, in other words, amplification throughout
the fiber optic network, which leads to substantial increases in the amount of
information carried by each fiber.
SDL's products power the transmission of data, voice, video and Internet
information over fiber optic networks to meet the needs of telecommunications,
dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM), cable television and satellite
communications applications. They enable customers to meet the bandwidth
needs of increasing Internet, data, video and voice traffic by expanding their
fiber optic communications networks much more quickly and efficiently than
would be possible using conventional electronic and optical technologies.
SDL's optical products also serve a variety of non-communications
applications, including materials processing and printing. Additional
information about SDL, Inc. is available on the Internet at http://www.sdli.com .
Statements in this press release which are not historical including
statements regarding SDL's or management's intentions, hopes, beliefs,
expectations, representations, projections, plans or predictions of the future
are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include statements regarding
companies evaluating product, the growth in the market for undersea fiber
optics, expected higher data transmission rates in Raman amplification, Raman
being a key technology in next generation DWDM systems, and Raman products
helping expand the company and product line. It is important to note that the
Company's actual results could differ materially from those in any such
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially include the market for undersea fiber not developing as quickly as
expected, lower than expected data transmission rates from Raman-based
products, and Raman products not being critical ingredients in future DWDM
systems, and the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC
reports, including but not limited to, the annual report on Form 10-K and
10-K/A for the year ended January 1, 1999, and the quarterly reports on Form
10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 1999.
For more information on SDL, Inc. at no cost, please call 800-PRO-INFO
(U.S.) or 732-544-2850 (Int'l), ticker symbol, SDLI.
SOURCE SDL, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.sdli.com
CONTACT:
Donald R. Scifres, Chairman and CEO, or
Michael L. Foster, VP Finance and CFO, 408-943-9411, both of SDL,
Inc.; or general, Lisa Horn Chainey, investors, Susan Katz, or
media, June Parina, 415-986-1591, all of The Financial Relations
Board
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