SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Oclaro, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCLR), a tier-one provider of optical communications and laser solutions, today announced its third generation 40G PM-QPSK transponder, the MI 5000XM, featuring an integrated modulator, receiver and the industry's first single-chip ASIC solution for enabling coherent detection. The company also announced the sampling of a new coherent receiver and 40G PM-QPSK modulator that enable customers to build their own coherent-based transponders or line cards for delivering higher performance and longer reach in the fiber optic network. For more information, customers should visit Oclaro at this week's OFC/NFOEC show in its private customer suites located in booth #2156 and 2160.

There are three dominant 40G modulation formats generally used in networks today: DPSK (Differential Phase-Shift Keying), DQPSK (Differential Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying), and PM-QPSK (Polarization-Multiplexed Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying). PM-QPSK coupled with coherent detection and digital signal processing provides a cost-effective way for optical signals to reach longer distances with compensation for large amounts of optical impairments such as chromatic dispersion and polarization mode dispersion. The solution also provides a stepping stone to future 100G networks that will be based entirely on coherent detection. Today, Oclaro is the volume shipment leader in 40G DPSK line side 300-pin transponders and is now the first company to deliver a coherent transponder solution incorporating the MUX, A/D and DSP functions in a single ASIC chip developed in partnership with ClariPhy Communications, Inc. Along with its existing portfolio of components and modules, Oclaro has now established a clear leadership position in 40G high bit-rate products and the company is well positioned to become the leading supplier for 100G deployments. Moving forward, Oclaro will continue to deliver products for all 40G modulation formats and will provide customers the flexibility of purchasing complete transponder solutions or individual components.

"The explosive growth of the Internet is driving an insatiable 'need for speed' in the core network - and this is where Oclaro is focused," said Andy Carter, Chief Technology Officer at Oclaro. "This third generation of 40G coherent solutions will allow service providers to deploy highly scalable and flexible future-proof architectures and this is just the next step towards delivering the 100G speeds that will be required in the future."

Oclaro Inc. (Nasdaq: OCLR)