Optillion joins forces with world leaders to develop a uniform product standard for 10 Gbit/s Ethernet

Optillion joins forces with world leaders to develop a uniform product standard for 10 Gbit/s Ethernet Together with Agere Systems, Agilent Technologies, Mitsubishi Electric, Pine Photonics Communications and Tyco Electronics, the high-tech company Optillion has closed a Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) for 10 Gbit/s Ethernet transceivers. Through this working agreement, the XENPAK Group has created a uniform international product standard for high- speed transceivers. The XENPAK Group agreement regulates the form factor, size, connector type and electrical pin-outs of the products and supports the proposed IEEE 10 Gbit/s Ethernet interoperability standard. This standard ensures compatibility between transceivers produced by different manufacturers. The development work for suppliers of Ethernet switches and routers will thus be simplified and reduced. This is an important factor for the rapid increase in capacity of broadband networks. The capacity of the new Ethernet transceivers allows them to operate at ten times the speed of the fastest Ethernet transceivers for data communication available today. "Being asked to be a part of this international partnership is a major mark of recognition for Optillion. In the space of just a year, we have established our credentials as a world leader in the field of high-speed transceivers for 10 Gbit/s Ethernet, a position confirmed by our participation in the XENPAK Group, " says Patrik Evaldsson, CEO of Optillion. Optillion's first products are fibre optic transceivers for 10 Gbit/s Ethernet at distances of 10 and 40 km. These fibre optic transmitters and receivers will play a vital role in the next generation of Ethernet switches and routers. Optillion is expecting to launch its prototypes during the third quarter of the current year. At the Networld+Interop trade fair in Las Vegas this week, Optillion will be presenting a module adapted to meet the new product standard. Optillion was founded in December 1999. In December 2000, Cisco Systems, Crescendo Ventures, Investor and ITACT invested more than $ 50 million in Optillion via a private placement. For additional information, please contact: Patrik Evaldsson, CEO, tel. +46 8-477 41 61, mobile: +46 701-81 52 11 Heléne Wolpher, Information Manager, tel. +46 8-477 41 60, mobile: +46 701-81 52 23 ABOUT OPTILLION Optillion is a high-tech Swedish company that operates in the optic component and subsystem market. The business concept of Optillion is to develop, manufacture and sell transceivers that will increase the capacity of fibre optic networks. The transmission capacity of Optillion's first transceivers will be 10 Gbit/s Ethernet. Optillion was founded in December 1999 by Christer Svensson, Professor of electronic components at the University of Linköping, Lars Thylén, Professor of photonics at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm (KTH) and Jan G. Nilsson, a successful entrepreneur. In a very short time, these three have put together a very strong team of experts within all the four fields that are vital for success. Today, Optillion employs experts in high-speed electronics, high-speed optics, automated manufacturing and encasing. The company currently employs 80 people. The principal owners of Optillion are ITACT, Crescendo Ventures, Cisco Systems and Investor Growth Capital. In order to be able to manufacture large volumes of high-performance transceivers for 10 Gbit/s Ethernet at low cost, Optillion has chosen to build its own factory. Optillion will use the factory to manufacture optochips and to encase and assemble the transceivers. When the factory is finished, it will constitute the hub of Optillion's business operations. The new factory is being built in Kungens Kurva, south of Stockholm. www.optillion.com ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/05/08/20010507BIT01170/bit0002.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/05/08/20010507BIT01170/bit0002.pdf