GRENOBLE, France and COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- TEEM PHOTONICS, a leading provider of ultra-compact photonic solutions for high bandwidth optical networks and NKT Integration, a leading supplier of integrated photonic services and solutions, today announced a multi-source agreement (MSA) to develop a 4-port fully-integrated gain block consisting of four separately controlled gain blocks in a 110 x 95 x 12mm3 module. The agreement sets common product standards for form, fit and function in mechanical, optical and electrical interface parameters for integration into next generation optical networks, offering system integrators supply-line security from compatible EDWA manufacturers.The small form factor 4-port EDWA Array will integrate optical gain block functionality of passive and active sub-components based on PLC technology that Teem and NKT Integration use. This technology easily lends itself to a multi-port device due to its inherent capacity of integrating optical taps, filters, isolators and other sub-components on the same planar waveguide in the form of an optical chip.Designed initially for metro single-channel and narrow-band applications, EDWA arrays offer higher levels of integration, greater packing density of components in systems, as well as increased functionality. The need to substantially save space in future OADM (optical add/drop multiplexer), ROADM (reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer), and OXC (optical crossconnect) designs where higher port count and signal routing flexibility will be important is met."Strong restrictions on form factor and cost per amplifier in DWDM networks call for innovative solutions, such as the EDWA Array" says Jacob Philipsen, CEO NKT Integration. "Through this MSA, we have standardized this innovation in order to ensure simpler design guidelines and reliable supply chains for system integrators."NKT Integration A/STeem Photonics