Development agreement for high-speed fiberoptic links expected to end bottlenecks

Development agreement for high-speed fiberoptic links expected to end bottlenecks

Molecular OptoElectronics (MOEC; Watervliet, NY) and Lockheed Martin Communications and Power Center (CPC; Newtown, PA) signed a joint agreement to develo¥a fiberoptic technology for the transmission of high-speed microwave signals. Lockheed Martin will use the technology for satellite and defense-related applications, while MOEC will engage in commercial markets for land communications. The development agreement relates to a new class of fiberoptic modulators that will be able to impart high-frequency microwave signals onto a fiber link. This translates into higher data rates for both analog and digital communications."While the microwave community routinely uses frequencies to 40 GHz, the carriers who use commercial SONET equipment are looking at data rates of just less than 10 GH¥at the high end," says Kevin Stewart, MOEC president. "Bringing this new class of transmitter technology to these carriers will go a long way toward easing the communications bottlenecks caused by skyrocketing Internet and datacom traffic."