ANAHEIM, Calif. -- OFC 2002 -- Agere Systems (NYSE: AGR.A), the world leader in communications components, today announced multi-protocol, multi-reach 10 gigabit-per-second (Gbit/s) transponders that allow optical network systems manufacturers to lengthen fiber reach while lowering cost and power. These 300-pin transponders offer industry-leading performance at 40 and 80 kilometers (km) and are fully compliant with 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and 10 gigabit-per-second (Gbit/s) SONET/SDH data rates. Showcased in live demonstrations here at the Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) Conference, Agere's new cooled 10 Gbit/s transponder is the first to transmit up to 80 km at much lower cost and power requirements than competing technologies. In addition, Agere has developed the industry's first uncooled transponder to transmit up to 40 km. These products join a comprehensive platform of 2.5 Gbit/s and 10 Gbit/s transponder products that delivers subsystem-level integration made possible by Agere's expertise in both optoelectronic and integrated circuit (IC) design, development and manufacturing. "Every jump in optical technology performance usually results in increased system cost, size and power consumption," said Mark Granahan, vice president of Agere's Optical Access and Transport division. "However, in today's capital and operating expenditure-constrained environment, systems manufacturers and their service provider customers need devices that optimize their networks cheaply and efficiently. Agere's new transponder products can help improve the fiber distance and protocol-independence of current networks while still maintaining excellent performance and low cost."In a separate release:Agere Systems (NYSE: AGR.A), the world leader incommunications components, today announced a new suite of NetLight(r)small-form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceivers for optical networkingsystems. Announced here at the 2002 Optical Fiber Communication (OFC)Conference, these high-speed, cost-effective transceivers provide systemsmanufacturers with greater design flexibility and manufacturing efficiency.Agere has partnered with Pine Photonics Communications to jointly developthis new line of high-volume OC-3 to OC-48 SONET/SDH and Gigabit Ethernet(GbE) SFP devices. This joint development and marketing agreement spansdefinition, development and manufacturing of pluggable transceivers, usingAgere's optical components as well as Pine Photonics' transceiver design andsupply chain expertise. Agere will provide exclusive marketing and salesworldwide."With systems designers looking to limit their number of suppliers, thispartnership positions Agere as a single source for a suite ofhigh-performance small-form-factor transceivers, both pluggable andpin-through-hole," said Mark Granahan, vice president of Agere's OpticalAccess and Transport division. "Pine Photonics shares Agere's commitment tosolid design, quality manufacturing and reliable products. We have alreadyshipped samples of these pluggable transceivers to a number of customers."In a separate release:Agere Systems (NYSE: AGR.A), the world leader incommunications components, today announced an uncooled XENPAK-compliant 10Gigabit Ethernet transceiver that, for the first time, can transmit up to 40kilometers (km) over optical fiber. Representing a major breakthrough inuncooled laser technology, this transceiver opens the door to significantlylower cost and power requirements for systems manufacturers implementingextended-reach 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) solutions in themetropolitan-access network (MAN) and long-haul markets.Showcased in a live demonstration here at the Optical Fiber Communication(OFC) Conference, this 1310-nanometer (nm) serial transceiver benefits fromAgere's expertise in optical laser chip technology to transmit at four timesthe distance of standard uncooled devices. Developed using the sameplatform as Agere's 10 km serial 10 GbE transceiver, this 40 km device meetsthe fiber reach typically achieved with 1550 nm cooled laser transmitters,while maintaining the lower cost and power requirements associated withuncooled lasers. Forty kilometers represents a standard link length forhigh-speed metropolitan optical networks."This device represents a turning point for systems makers implementinghigh-speed Ethernet networks," said Mark Granahan, vice president of Agere'sOptical Access and Transport division. "With Agere's uncooled transceiverplatform, customers using short-reach XENPAK transceivers can upgrade tolonger distances without making a jump to more expensive technologies. Whencombined with our 10-kilometer XENPAK-compliant transceiver, Agere hasdeveloped a platform for integrated, feature-rich Gigabit Ethernetproducts."Agere Systems For more information on OFC 2002, please visit: www.nottheofc.com