Kamelian Offers Optical Linear Amplifier

AMSTERDAM -- ECOC 2001 -- UK fibre optic component vendor Kamelian has today unveiled the industry's first variable gain optical linear amplifier (OLA) which allows multi-wavelength amplification with no distortion. The device, based on the company's established Indium Phosphide semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) technology offers a cost-effective alternative to EDFAs (Erbium Doped Fibre Amplifiers). The company expects that they will be a key enabler for reducing the cost and increasing performance of fibre-optic networks, particularly in the burgeoning metro systems sector. The OLA is being demonstrated at the European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC 2001) which takes place in Amsterdam from 30th September to 4th October 2001. Paul May, CEO of Kamelian, stated, "Traditionally, SOAs have been most effective in single-wavelength applications. This technology breakthrough from Kamelian offers the prospect of multi-channel in-line amplification between or within nodes at a cost which will be very attractive for use in metro networks, an area where the use of EDFAs cannot easily be justified." Kamelian Ltd.