WALTHAM, Mass. -- CyOptics Inc., a leading developer of Indium Phosphide (InP) based optical components, today announced the availability of its 2.5Gb/s uncooled 1.55um DFB laser with an operating temperature range of -20 degrees C to +95 degrees C available in the product series "1.5UDFB-C2551B000X". This product offering is ideal for metropolitan networks and other applications requiring span lengths up to 100km.

"The 1.5UDFB product was conceived through dialog with major component and system OEM's," said Dr. Robert Hartman, vice president, device design and development for CyOptics Inc. "With the availability of the 1.5UDFB we are enabling new applications in the uncooled market that did not previously exist and at a cost structure advantageous for systems designers and service providers."

The CyOptics 1.5UDFB is unique from currently available 1.5um DFB uncooled sources which are limited in operating temperature from 0 degrees C to 70 degrees C. Current 1.5um DFB sources require costly cooling to accommodate the higher operating temperatures. In addition, the CyOptics 1.5UDFB solves the interoperability problem that exists between longer reach 1.55um and shorter reach 1.3um applications by providing a single solution without costly cooling.

"The Metro and Enterprise market need for an extended temperature device is here today," said David Harrison, director of development at Infineon.

"We are delighted to be able to bring our unique value added capabilities to the market addressing our customers' major design and cost needs," said Ali Abouzari, vice president of sales and marketing for CyOptics Inc. "The 1.5UDFB is built on CyOptics' platform of high-performance Indium Phosphide devices and flexible automated manufacture for uniformity and low cost."

The 1.5UDFB enables transmission over 100km of fiber without amplification and with less than 2db dispersion penalty. It is packaged in an industry standard TO-CAN. Pricing is under $200 per unit in volume. Customer samples are scheduled to be available in September and volume production is expected to begin within the fourth quarter of 2003.

CyOptics Inc.