Xebeo Communications partners with Johanson Fiber Optics Group for development and first use of revolutionary multi-fiber optical backplane connectors

Xebeo Communications Inc., a metro optical packet switch networking solutions company, and Johanson Fiber Optics Group, LLC, a fiber-optic interconnect technology company, announced the first use of Xebeo's MetroBridgetm and the commercial availability of a jointly developed optical backplane fiber connection system, the Johanson MPAKtm Connector System.

The increasing deployment of optical fiber as an access, metro transport, and backbone transport media providing voice, VPN and Internet connectivity has created new demands for an emerging class of optical packet switches. These switches terminate multiple fibers directly from customers, metro access networks, and backbone networks, and provide packet classification, policing, filtering, queuing, scheduling, and switching at optical wire speeds of 100 Mbits/sec to 40 Gbits/sec, requiring switch speeds and capacities that can only be met with optical backplane-based architectures.

A key demand of the optical packet switch is ease and speed of optical line card connectivity. Through joint design, development, and test with Xebeo, Johanson's MPAKtm Multifiber Connector System uses up to 6 MT ferrule for a capacity of 144 fibers in a single connector. The MPAK Connector System also uses a patent pending dual shutter system for enhanced safety along with an optional switch shutoff to disable the laser when the connector is removed.

For more information about Johanson Fiber Optics Group LLC, visit the company website at www.johansonfiber.com. More information about Xebeo Communications Inc. (Boonton, NJ) can be found at WWW.xebeo.com.