IQE to Develop CS Laser Products for Next Generation Broadband
Source/Type: News - Staff reports

Author: CompoundSemi News Staff

May 20, 2009... IQE of Cardiff, UK, reports that it has won funding from the UK's Technology Strategy Board (TSB) for research into compound semiconductor laser products for the next generation of high speed broadband access devices. The TSB is investing £1 million to help companies carry out initial research that to eventually develop and introduce internet access technology with speeds up to 10Gb/s, which is 1,000 times faster than current broadband speeds. IQE and chip foundry partner CST Global have been collaborating on development of high specification diode laser components for such applications. The partners have been awarded three feasibility studies running in parallel to look at low cost laser sources for uncooled, high speed, extended reach Fibre To The Home (FTTH) applications based on AlInGaAs laser products.

Project lead Dr Wyn Meredith commented, "This phase of optical network expansion is rewriting the rulebook in terms of the cost - quality equation; we are enabling a new breed of component vendors who have been quick to adopt the foundry model, and are proving far more agile and resilient than their vertically integrated competitors in the current market conditions. Involvement in this programme will result in rapid introduction of standardised foundry epitaxial and fabrication level laser diode solutions which will have proven performance in terms of transmission speed and optical power output, compatible with larger (4”) wafer formats." IQE News Release

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