News

22 March 2010

 

TriQuint starts production of first 40 & 100Gb/s SMT amplifiers

RF front-end product maker TriQuint Semiconductor Inc of Hillsboro, OR, USA has begun high-volume production for major optical network manufacturers of new driver amplifiers, including what are claimed to be the first surface-mount technology (SMT) 40 and 100Gb/s devices on the market. The firm says that its products ease assembly and reduce power consumption for 'greener' wideband high-speed optical networks.

The new modulator drivers are on show at this week’s Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC 2010) in San Diego, CA, USA (22–25 March). In particular, featured in the Optical Internetworking Forum’s (OIF) showcase at the OFC exhibition, the TGA4943-SL (claimed to be the first 40 and 100Gb/s surface-mount driver) operates using half the power of other devices (just 1.7W). The TGA4943-SL is also available in an adaptive module for compatibility with legacy systems.

In addition, the new TGA4826-SM modulator driver — which is suited to optical network applications that need high drive combined with high linearity — was selected as a key component of the fiber system powering Europe's first commercial 100Gb/s link (which entered service in late 2009). The TGA4826-SM wideband amplifier offers very low power consumption (dissipation) and is available in a standard 6mm x 6mm package.

TriQuint is also ramping production of its new smaller, TGA4956-SM low-power driver amplifier, which offers enhanced performance for 10Gb/s optical communications systems (a significant portion of today’s deployed fiber networks).

“TriQuint surface-mount modulator drivers have proven themselves in the market,” claims TriQuint vice president Brian P. Balut. “Since entering the modulator driver market, we have shipped nearly 500,000 SMTs; our new 40G and 100G products are designed for the move to higher-speed networks,” he adds.

“Demand for bandwidth is maintaining the momentum behind growth of higher-speed networks, with 40Gb/s networks expected to show an 80% CAGR [compound annual growth rate] over 2011–2013,” notes Asif Anwar, director, GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies Service for market research firm Strategy Analytics. “The market for 100Gb/s networks will also emerge over this timeframe and, while still at an early stage, Strategy Analytics predicts a CAGR of 174% for 100Gb/s networks over the same timeframe,” he adds. “TriQuint is a leader in developing optical driver amplifier technology based on proven GaAs processes that offer optimal performance while also reducing power dissipation and improving thermal operation. TriQuint’s technology leadership makes the company well suited to meet the needs of the higher-value, higher-growth market demand from 10Gb/s, 40Gb/s and 100Gb/s networks.”

The need to expand high-speed fiber and wireless broadband capacity continues to grow in response to a global customer demand for faster, ‘always-on’ internet access supporting data-hungry smartphones and fixed access points, as well as wired and wireless network backhaul. TriQuint says that it simplifies RF connectivity for optical, point-to-point, CATV and cellular base-station applications through products offering linearity, efficiency and reliability. The firm is working with leading network systems manufacturers, and last year announced an agreement with China’s Huawei Technologies to work on developing faster, more efficient networks.

TriQuint has also grown its broadband portfolio with the TriAccess line of CATV/fiber-to-the-home (FTTH)/RF over Glass (RFoG) products that enable cable systems to expand capacity and cost-effectively offer 'triple play' (video-voice-internet) services through existing networks.

Samples and evaluation boards are available for the TGA4826-SM, the TGA4943-SL (40 and 100Gb/s) and the TGA4956-SM (10Gb/s); data sheets and S-parameters can be downloaded from TriQuint’s Optical Network web pages.

Search: TriQuint CATV FTTH

Visit: www.triquint.com