Essex Intros XFP

COLUMBIA, Md. -- Essex Corporation (NASDAQ: KEYW) announced today its Commercial Communications Products Division (CCPD) has released for evaluation its advanced performance XFP Transceivers for 80km and extended-temperature range applications. XFP Transceivers are small form-factor 10 Gb/s pluggable electro-optic interfaces for datacom and telecom systems. The Essex Edge™ products are designed for specialized requirements such as longer transmission distances and harsh environmental conditions.

Network equipment manufacturers are evaluating the XFP Transceivers for use in Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) equipment as well as various types of data grooming multiplexers. Completion of communications industry standard Telcordia qualification is expected in Q2 of 2006. Availability of production units of the Essex Edge™ XFP Transceivers is planned for early Q3 of 2006, following the completion of Telcordia qualification testing.

“Network equipment manufacturers have told us that the issues they need addressed in the XFP transceiver market are 1) extending the reach and 2) increasing the operating temperature range of the devices,” according to Leonard Moodispaw, CEO and President of Essex Corporation. “With the new functionality of the XFP Transceivers being introduced to the market now by Essex, we are meeting the distance and temperature challenges defined by this market.”

“Creating solutions and economic gain for complex communications environments such as extended temperature range operation and longer transmission distances is not an easy task,” commented Sam Greenholtz, Analyst and Principal at Telecom Pragmatics and a Technology Advisor to Essex. “I believe Essex is among the first in the industry to deliver this level of performance in the XFP market. Availability of this higher functionality will broaden the market for XFP transceivers.”

Essex Corp.