ANAHEIM, Calif. -- OFC 2002 -- OpNext Inc., a global leader in high-performance optical networking components, today announces a new 10Gbit/s avalanche photodiode (APD) module for use in OC192/STM-64 systems with a end-of life receiver sensitivity of -26dBm at BER of 10-12. The new receiver provides several decibels of additional link margin, enabling transceiver designers to develop units that transmit over greater distances while reducing the overall system cost. “OpNext has a long history of firsts in the optical components business, based on 25 years of world class research and development at Hitachi’s Central Research Laboratory,” said Harry Bosco, chief executive officer of OpNext. “We are best known in the market for our lasers, and this new receiver rounds out our portfolio of top quality components used in our optical engines. The avalanche photodiode will further reinforce our position as one of the leaders in the 10Gbit/s transceiver market, which is the fastest growing segment of the components market.” In a separate release:OpNext Inc., a global leader in high-performance optical networking components, today announced that Naoki Chinone, senior vice president of OpNext Japan Inc., has been elected a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for his work in semiconductor lasers.The grade of Fellow, the highest membership level attainable, is conferred by the IEEE Board of Directors upon a person who has achieved outstanding and extraordinary accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest. Chinone was cited for his “contributions to the development and understanding of semiconductor lasers.” The total number of fellows selected in any year does not exceed one-tenth of one percent of the total voting institute; the class of 2002 of which Chinone is a member consists of 258 fellows.OpNext Inc.For more information on OFC 2002, please visit: www.nottheofc.com