Intel Buys Optical Networking Firms

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 26 -- Intel Corp. has agreed to acquire three companies with key capabilities and technologies for producing optoelectronic components -- which are electrical components used in optical networking equipment.
Intel has acquired Cognet Inc. and nSerial Corp., two developers of high-speed electronic components for 10 Gb Ethernet optical modules. Cognet has developed components that process electrical signals within optical modules after those signals have been converted from light waves. nSerial is developing 10 Gb Ethernet components that convert those electrical signals into the protocols used by networking devices. Both companies are developing chipsets using a CMOS manufacturing process that helps reduce the chipsets' cost and power consumption associated with more exotic manufacturing processes currently in use.
Intel has also agreed to acquire LightLogic Inc., a leading provider of highly integrated, high-speed optical transponders targeted at the rapidly growing metropolitan market segment. These transponders integrate high-speed optics and electronic components into a single device that converts optical signals into fully formatted digital signals helping to reduce development time for optical networking equipment manufacturers.