Digital Optics Completes $1.6 Million ATP Grant Project

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 22 -- Digital Optics Corp. (DOC) has successfully completed a project funded largely by a $1.6 million Advanced Technology Program (ATP) grant from the US Department of Commerce. The grant's goal was to develop the infrastructure needed to commercialize integrated micro-optical subassemblies (IMOS), which DOC calls photonic chips.
Photonic chips are hybrid photonic modules made at the wafer level. They utilize custom design, modeling and simulation software tools. In addition, they utilize wafer fabrication of micro-optics using photolithography, silicon bench fabrication, photolithographic patterning of interconnects, alignment marks and solder pads, flip-chip die bonding and pick and place of actives and passives, thick assembly dicing and many more technologies.
The catalyst of the two-year $3 million program was the $1.65 million grant from the ATP, said DOC president Kevin M. Drehmer. Without the ATP investment, this technology would have been significantly delayed. The completion of this project brings renewed excitement about the photonic chip, our solution for the next generation of the optoelectronic industry. We are grateful for the support from the Advanced Technology Program and from our demonstrator module partners: Agilent Technologies, Inc. and MicroE Corporation. FIBER Ericsson to Provide Fiber Cable to Aerie NetworksSTOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 22 -- Aerie Networks has contracted with Ericsson to provide fiber optic cable for the largest broadband network in the US. The contract is worth more than $300 million over three years, said Aerie Networks.
As a Network Host, Aerie is creating a platform on which others can build and operate their networks, said Mort Aaronson, president and COO of Aerie Networks. As one of the world's leading manufacturers of fiber optic cable and as an industry leader in optical fiber ribbon technologies for long-haul networks, Ericsson is the perfect technology partner for Aerie. This partnership represents a significant commitment by both companies to the successful implementation of the largest inter-city, broadband network ever envisioned in the US. GCI Sells Fiber Optic Capacity for $19 MillionANCHORAGE, Alaska, Jan. 22 -- GCI has completed a sale of fiber capacity in its long-haul fiber optic network in a cash transaction of $19.5 million. The sale includes both capacity within Alaska as well as in the lower 48 states. Under terms of the agreement, bandwidth capacity and terms of service were not disclosed.
GCI's network is a high-capacity fiber optic communication system connecting Alaska's major population centers with the contiguous 48 states. GCI constructed the fiber optic network to meet its own capacity requirements, plus those of a limited number of potential broadband customers.