Avanex Corp., Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and Opnext Inc. announced today at OFC/NFOEC the formation of a multisource agreement (MSA) to establish compatible sources of 10 Gb/s XFP-E (extended size) transceivers for high-performance applications in 10 Gb/s optical transmission systems. "As an extension of standard XFP MSA 4.0 compliant, it provides convenient and flexible optical interfaces for ultralong-haul dense wavelength division applications as well as back compatibility with SONET/SDH, 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 10-G Fibre Channel XFP transceivers operating from 9.95 Gb/s up to 11.09 Gb/s," the MSA committee said. The new XFP-E meets the applicable ITU-T G.691, ITU-T G.709, Telcordia GR-253 and XFP MSA standards. An XFI electrical interface is provided along with a two-wire serial I2C interface for digital diagnostics. MSA is now finalizing the XFP-E specifications, and samples will be available in 2006.    . . .    The Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) is demonstrating the interoperability of transponders and optical components for very-long-reach (VLR) applications using alternative modulation techniques at OFC/NFOEC this week in Anaheim. OIF members Azna LLC, Essex Corp., Kodeos Communications, Opnexta and Vitesse will demonstrate interoperability of an application code for VLR links at the OIF booth (1149). Agilent, Anritsu, JDSU and Tektronix are supplying test equipment. Participants will demonstrate interoperability of an application code for very-long-reach (VLR) links. The OIF, working in conjunction with the study group (ITU-T SG) 15, developed the application code (P1V1-2C2) as part of the ITU-T G.959.1 specification. This VLR application code, accepted by the ITU during its February 2006 meeting in Geneva, is based on alternate modulation techniques supporting transmission through 2400 ps/nm of residual dispersion without regeneration or inline optical compensation. The application code supports carrier requirements for longer reaches at lower costs and allows for direct upgrade of 2.5 to 10 Gb/s VLR links. "The test methodology was derived from the OIF's Transponder Interoperability Implementation Agreement to ensure multivendor compatibility," said Karl Gass, a researcher at Sandia National Laboratories and chairman of the OIF's physical layer users working group. "This is an opportunity for component and module suppliers to demonstrate the maturity of a new industry standard." More information about the demonstration is available in a white paper that can be downloaded at: www.oiforum.com/public/documents/OIF_APP_VR_WP.pdf    . . .    Eblana Photonics Ltd., a Dublin, Ireland-based supplier of laser components for advanced networking applications, announced the release of what it said is a breakthrough laser product series, the EP1310-FC4X and its TOSA version, the EP1310-FC4X-OSA, targeted at single-mode 4 Gb/s Fibre Channel applications. The series expands on Eblana's recently announced LDM discrete mode laser series for 10GBase-LX4 applications and the 1310 nm distributed feedback laser replacement, the EP1310-DM laser series, which the company said is targeted at fiber-to-the-home Gigabit Ethernet passive optical network (GEPON) PX20 and GPON (Gigabit passive optical network) applications. For details, see Featured Products: www.photonics.com/XQ/ASP/prodid.929/QX/readprod.htm