Agere to Provide High-Power Undersea Pump Laser to TyCom

ALLENTOWN, Pa., July 24 -- Agere Systems announced that TyCom has selected Agere's new 980 nm pump lasers for use in TyCom's undersea optical amplifiers. This design win, valued at $70 million over the next 12 months, is part of a three-year agreement that TyCom signed earlier this year with Agere to supply optical components for use in building the TyCom Global Network, expected to be the world's most extensive and technologically advanced undersea optical network.

"This announcement brings together two leaders in their respective spaces -- one in optoelectronic components and the other in submarine networks," said Dan DiLeo, executive vice president of Agere's Optoelectronics division. "Agere's experience in undersea optical products makes it an excellent fit for TyCom as the company builds out its undersea network." Phase 1 of the TyCom Global Network is expected to span 90,000 km and offer multiterabit capacity to more than 30 major cities around the world.

"We're moving beyond our role as the world's leading undersea network provider to become a global network operator with the TyCom Global Network," said Claire Calandra, executive vice-president and COO of TyCom. "Agere's pump laser products will help ensure that TyCom's network provides the highest capacity and performance in global communications service."