GaAs modulator technology is seen as a key in the cost effective deployment of 40 and 100G fiber optic communication systems to meet the ever increasing demands for global internet traffic.
Since GaAs can utilize 6" wafer processing capabilities the process control available can be much better than that employed for the smaller wafer sizes usually employed for optoelectronic components used in optical communications applications. This will in turn enable higher levels of monolithic integration in GaAs enabling the high performance and cost effective components that are required for the complex modulation schemes that 40 and 100G systems will need.
This acquisition will add to u2t's strong capability in 40 and 100G optical communication products which are amongst the fastest growing areas in the optical networking market. U2t expects the addition of the GaAs modulator business to strengthen their product offering which already has leading edge 40 and 100G receiver and detector products.
With this acquisition u²t gains access to GaAs based optical components and adds another platform to its technology portfolio. u²t will continue its close partnership with Heinrich-Hertz- Institut in Berlin on components based on InP technology, enabling the exploitation of whichever material system is best suited for each application.
"We are very excited about the acquisition of the GaAs Optical Modulator business since we see very strong synergies with our existing 40 and 100G receiver products" said Andreas Umbach, the Chief Executive Officer of u2t. "It will allow us to enhance our offering by delivering high performance yet cost effective transmitter functionality. I was encouraged by the experience and capabilities of the team and their enthusiastic reaction to the acquisition."