Optical Transceiver, Avago, AFBR-57J5APZ

Optical Transceiver for the Broad Wireless Base Station Market is a first says Avago

News Release from: Avago Technologies
17 September 2007

Avago Technologies has announced optical transceivers for the broad wireless base station market. Avago is a leading supplier of analog interface components for communications, industrial and consumer applications. Specifically built to support industrial-level temperature ranges and open standards for the base transceiver station (BTS) market, Avago's new AFBR-57J5APZ is part of the industry's first family of optical transceivers for use in next-generation, wireless infrastructure networking equipment.

With high-speed serial links over multimode optical fiber at 3.072 Gb/s (OBSAI/CPRI standard), the AFBR-57J5APZ operates at the industrial temperature range of -40° to +85° C with link distances of 500 meters over OM3 grade fiber. Avago's new product line for the base transceiver station market will include multimode and single mode optical transceivers. Single mode transceivers for the wireless base station market that support distances from up to 80 km will be available by end of 2007.

Avago's new family of fiber optic transceiver modules target emerging OBSAI (open base station architecture initiative) and CPRI (common public radio interface) standards for next generation wireless base station systems. With W-CDMA, GSM, EDGE and WiMAX incorporating data rich content, base station system performance must improve, commented Dave D'Andrea, director of marketing for Avago Technologies' fiber optic products division. OBSAI and CPRI standards address the need for cost effective, higher performance wireless base station systems and Avago's new product line will provide system designers with the best cabling interconnect solution.

Fiber optics offer several advantages over traditional copper cabling used in wireless base stations. Compared to copper solutions, optical fiber supports longer link distances with higher data rates and at a lower total cost of ownership. At higher data rates, larger copper cables cause more difficulties in installation, maintenance, and upgradeability for base station implementations - issues that a lightweight optical fiber cable does not have. Further, designing with fiber enables more robust and cost effective solutions as fiber technology consumes less power, does not have RF emissions, provides EMI immunity which is critical for data security and integrity, and offers high voltage isolation which protects the network during a lightning storm.