BOULDER, Colo. -- Network Photonics(TM) Inc., a leading supplier of all-optical wavelength switching subsystems, today announced a dramatic reduction in optical insertion loss from 6dB to 4dB (maximum) for its CrossWave(TM) integrated wavelength switching technology. Network Photonics' first two products, the CrossWave 1200 and the CrossWave 2200 represent the world's first commercially available MEMS-based wavelength switches and now boast industry-leading optical specs including the lowest optical loss of any integrated wavelength switch. CrossWave subsystems are used by DWDM system OEMs to build reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (R-OADMs), wavelength cross-connects (WXCs) and hybrid OOO/OEO cross-connects. A R-OADM system built with Network Photonics CrossWave technology decreases insertion loss by up to 3dB per network element. This dramatic savings in optical budget can save carriers $1.3 million in a typical long haul span by reducing the overall cost per kilometer by 11 percent. Alternatively, carriers can use the additional optical budget to offer up to 50 percent more revenue-generating add/drop services in their networks. "All-optical network elements require the lowest possible insertion loss, and reductions in insertion loss translate directly into capital equipment and operating cost savings for service providers," said Steve Levy, Managing Director of Equity Research for Lehman Brothers. "With the carriers' current focus on cost reductions in all aspects of their networks, this technical achievement should be a major benefit to any carrier that deploys it." CrossWave 1200 and 2200 subsystems will be displayed at SUPERCOMM in booth #12945. Network Photonics Inc. For more information on Supercomm 2002, please visit: Supercomm Special