Big Bear Networks, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, introduced its patented electronic dispersion compensation (EDC) technology for addressing optical impairments in high-speed networks. The company said its EDC technology significantly improves receive sensitivity over fiber, providing additional margin at 80 km, and it increases the tolerance to transmitter variation, which improves interoperability with other vendor's transponders -- an ongoing problem with long-reach applications. Big Bear Networks has integrated its EDC technology, called Photronic Signal Processing (PSP), with optical components to deliver high performance, cost-optimized modules for high speed network applications.
Big Bear Networks is currently shipping for revenue into three markets, with additional products planned for market introduction later this year. All of the products are based on Big Bear Networks' PSP technology:
- Big Bear Networks is announcing 10GBASE-ZR XENPAK modules targeted at long-reach, single-mode (80-120 km) 10G Ethernet metro applications.
- Big Bear Networks has successfully had its EDC-based ICs designed into 10G Telecom line cards, which resolve optical impairment issues over single-mode fiber transmission links.
- Big Bear Networks has also developed its 40/43G transponders, which have been shipping for more than one year. The company supplies most of the early adopter 40G transponder business, primarily with test equipment manufacturers and Tier-1 system OEMs.
Big Bear Networks intends to deliver the first 10G Ethernet multi-mode fiber module, aligned to the IEEE draft standard -- targeting the high-volume enterprise switch-to-switch market applications. The bulk of fiber installed in the enterprise market is legacy-grade multi-mode, and the only current 10G solution is Coarse WDM interfaces (LX4), which has proven to be too expensive for enterprise applications. http://www.bigbearnetworks.com
- In November 2003, Big Bear Networks raised $18 million in a third round of private venture funding for its next-generation 10 and 40 Gbps optical system products. Big Bear said its electronic dispersion compensation technology automatically corrects for the fiber impairments (e.g., modal dispersion, chromatic dispersion, polarization mode dispersion) that become more severe as systems move toward greater speeds and transmission distances. Its Photonic Signal Processor (PSP) could be used in electrical-optical interfaces in equipment such as Ethernet switches, DWDM transmission systems, IP/MPLS routers and SONET/SDH cross-connects. The new funding was led by Menlo Ventures. Other participants include previous investors Accel Partners, Austin Ventures, Oak Investment Partners, and Sequoia Capital.
