Oclaro Intros Dual-Chip ROADM Pumps

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Oclaro, Inc. (NASDAQ: OCLR), a tier-one provider and innovator of optical communications and laser solutions, today announced the industry's first commercially-available dual-chip uncooled pump laser that features a smaller form factor, reduced cost, improved performance, and lower power consumption compared to competing cooled pumps. The dual-chip pump laser also features the new industry-standard 10-pin MSA butterfly advanced package format that delivers a smaller footprint compared to conventional 14-pin packages and - for the first time - includes two uncooled 500mW pump lasers in a single package. Designed for flexible grid ROADM architectures, these uncooled pumps will be on display at the OFC/NFOEC conference on March 19-21 in Anaheim, California in the Oclaro Booth #2701. Featuring a 2X reduction in footprint while delivering 60 percent lower power consumption, the Oclaro new dual-chip uncooled pumps will enable customers to deliver cost effective, power efficient add/drop arrayed amplifiers targeted at 4 or 8-degree CDC-Flex node architectures. These amplifiers will provide network operators with the increased bandwidth, capacity and flexibility that they need to support rapid provisioning of new services while reducing the cost of owning and operating the network. Typically, pump lasers represent a significant portion of the total cost associated with optical amplifiers, and this cost can be further compounded when considering arrayed amplifiers. However, with these new pumps, Oclaro can offer reduced optical amplifier costs, a smaller form factor and lower power consumption, while also maintaining fast transient control and industry-leading reliability. This will provide amplifier designers and manufacturers with a comprehensive advantage in their next generation ROADM architectures. "By developing a dual-chip uncooled pump laser, Oclaro is expanding its current leadership position in the pump laser market where the company has shipped more than 500,000 units externally in the last 3 years alone," said Robert Blum, Director of Product Marketing for the Oclaro Photonic Components Business Unit. "This continued success in the pump market is based on more than two decades of pump expertise and our ability to incorporate the most innovative technologies that enable our customers to achieve lower power consumption, smaller footprint and higher performance while continuing to manage costs." Oclaro Inc.