NEW YORK -- Light Reading (http://www.lightreading.com), the premiere information resource for the optical networking industry, today released "Valuations Deflation," a new report detailing the valuations of the leading 55 private optical networking companies. The report was compiled by the analysts of Optical Oracle (http://www.opticaloracle.com), the electronic research and advisory arm of Light Reading. Financial information for the report was gleaned from more than 20 venture-capital firms and private investors and, in some cases, the companies themselves. "It's been a brutal year in the optical venture market, so it was time to assess the damage," says Christopher Bulkey, research analyst at Optical Oracle. "This report delivers the most comprehensive assessment of the optical venture landscape to date." Bulkey notes that the valuation of one of the company's featured in the report has fallen from $500 million to $100 million in less than a year. The report provides detailed data about each company's funding -- as well as analysis of their prospects. It also breaks out investment by technology areas to show which categories of optical networking equipment are still hot - and which are "done." Additionally, the report forecasts when the optical networking market will bottom out -- and when the IPO market will fully return for optical outfits. This is the second report to be published by Optical Oracle since it was launched by Light Reading in June. The first report included a comprehensive 10,000-word assessment of the service provider sector, including a ranking of 14 leading carriers according to their technology and financial prowess. Optical Oracle Editor's Note: Light Reading is not affiliated with Oracle Corporation.