ANAHEIM, Calif. -- OFC 2002 -- Optical interconnect company Schott Optovance, Inc. has announced a technology partnership with Swiss component supplier, HUBER+SUHNER. Under this agreement Schott Optovance will manufacture, distribute, and market HUBER+SUHNER's FiberGate(TM) connector system, and have full access to the FiberGate technology. This new high density, high performance single-mode connector system will be showcased at OFC (booth # 3063 and 2845) HUBER+SUHNER is a global supplier of components and solutions for fiber optics, telecommunication, wireless, automotive and civil engineering applications. The FiberGate backplane connector system broadens Schott Optovance's optical interconnect portfolio, by allowing Schott Optovance to offer a low-loss 4-channel connector superior to current single-fiber connectors. Its compactness makes it two times smaller than LC-based connectors saving valuable space on the board edge and backplane. Its channel-by-channel mateability enables customized parallel optical interconnect designs and reconfiguration flexibility. Schott Optovance will leverage these benefits of the FiberGate system with its Optical Shuffle(TM) fiber management product and future products. "Due to Schott Optovance's strength as an OEM supplier in North America, this strategic partnership better positions HUBER+SUHNER to access and deliver flexible connector solutions to system vendors and optical switching companies," said Benedikt Banz, Senior VP of HUBER+SUHNER. "The FiberGate connector will enable Optovance to design smaller, more scaleable low loss systems." Schott Optovance Inc.Huber+Suhner Inc. For more information on OFC 2002, please visit: www.nottheofc.com