6 May 1999: US-based LightPath Technologies, Inc. and Kaifa Technology, Inc. announced the establishment of an agreement to jointly assemble and distribute mechanical fibreoptic switch products.
The…
6 May 1999: US-based LightPath Technologies, Inc. and Kaifa Technology, Inc. announced the establishment of an agreement to jointly assemble and distribute mechanical fibreoptic switch products. The products will incorporate the exclusive license LightPath secured from Mr. Herzel Laor in December 1998 covering 2X2 and 1XN mechanical switch technology. Terms of the agreement were not released. “We are pleased to join forces with LightPath Technologies in combining our complementary technologies to meet the increasing demand for optical components having higher levels of functionality, reliability and performance,” said Dr. Vincent S. Au-Yeung, CEO of Kaifa Technology. In a company statement, LightPath said that optical switches are a key component for many optical network applications such as re-configurable add drop multiplexers for DWDM systems, configuration, and protection switching. “LightPath Technologies“ collimator assembly will be a fundamental element to effectively meet the volume demand of this market.” The companies expect to have the first switch products available for customer field trials in late 1999 with initial revenues expected in 2000. The opto-mechanical switch market was approximately US$ 100 million in 1998 and is expected to double over the next two years.