FREMONT, Calif. -- Avanex Corporation (Nasdaq: AVNX) announced today that its PowerShaper(TM) Fixed Dispersion Etalon Compensator, based on Avanex's patented Frequency Dispersion Synthesizer (FDS) technology, has been shipped to more than 20 customers for trials and field deployments.

"Avanex's Frequency Dispersion Synthesizer (FDS) technology is firmly established as the leading etalon-based solution on the market," Dr. Giovanni Barbarossa, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President, Product Development of Avanex, said. "The PowerShaper Fixed Dispersion Etalon Compensator is part of a full suite of complementary dispersion compensation solutions we offer, including fiber-based modules for all fiber types and network applications and including fixed and tunable solutions. We believe we offer the most comprehensive and most widely deployed dispersion compensation solutions available."

Avanex announced early last year that it had been awarded a U.S. patent under the title "Method, system and apparatus for chromatic dispersion compensation utilizing a Gires-Tournois interferometer." This patent demonstrates the concept, method and design to achieve chromatic dispersion compensation using cascaded Gires-Tournois etalons. The patent and several additional complementary patents are the basis by which Avanex develops and manufactures its PowerShaper(TM) etalon-based dispersion compensation products, which enhance signal clarity and allow longer-distance transmissions.

Avanex's FDS technology is based upon a cascade of etalons, which allows the customized design of a variety of dispersion profiles, including positive and negative dispersion and dispersion slopes, non-linear dispersion slopes and slope-only dispersion compensation. The PowerShaper(TM) Fixed Dispersion Etalon Compensator module features a small-form factor, high input power handling and exceptional optical properties. It is suited to metro and long- haul networks at 10 Gb/s, to CATV links, submarine applications, residual dispersion clean-up applications and dynamic terminal dispersion compensation.

The PowerShaper(TM) Fixed Dispersion Etalon Compensator modules have been qualified to the Telcordia GR-1221 standard.

Avanex Corp.