HORSHAM, Pa., March 28, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Optium Corporation (Nasdaq:OPTM), a leading supplier of high-performance optical subsystems, today announced that researchers from Optium and the Centre for Ultrahigh-bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems (CUDOS) at the University of Sydney, Australia, have demonstrated the ability of Optium's dynamic Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) to provide dynamic dispersion compensation - a key requirement for next generation 40Gb/s and 100Gb/s systems, on a per-channel basis in a DWDM system.
Optium's WSS dynamic dispersion compensation capability will be presented in the Post Deadline Session at the Optical Fiber Communications Conference (OFC 2007) in Anaheim. The paper will describe dramatic improvements in system performance at speeds of 80Gb/s using a standard Optium WSS, with only software changes required to create the dispersion compensation function. The dispersion compensation function was overlaid onto the standard control software for Optium's WSS, which was still able to provide the full switching and per-channel amplitude control required for conventional network operation.
"Optium's dynamic dispersion compensation capability takes the flexibility of the wavelength selective switch to a higher level," stated Dr Michael Roelens of CUDOS and key researcher on the project, "with phase and intensity control leading to new possibilities in optical signal manipulation. This demonstration further enhances Optium's position as a supplier of software-reconfigurable optical subsystems for next generation networks."
Optium's flexible and 'future proof' approach to Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexers (ROADMs) supports conventional Add and Drop switching functions, as well as dynamic allocation of mixed 50/100GHz channel plans and provides the industry's only 10-port "Drop and Continue" capability. These, and other advanced features enabled by Optium's software-reconfigurable optical functionality positions Optium's WSS as the platform of choice for next generation optical networks.
Learn more about Optium's portfolio of WSS ROADM products at booth 3600 at the Optical Fiber Communications Conference and Exhibition (OFC/NFOEC) currently being held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.
About Optium Corporation
Optium designs, manufactures and sells a suite of high-performance optical subsystems, including transceivers, transmitters and ROADMs, for use in telecommunications and cable TV network systems. The company recently introduced a next-generation reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer, or ROADM, that enables dynamic wavelength processing. Quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "OPTM," Optium is headquartered in Horsham, PA and has other offices in Sydney, Australia. For more information, visit http://www.optium.com.
About CUDOS
The Centre for Ultrahigh-bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems (CUDOS) is an Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence at the University of Sydney, Australia. This work was funded partially by the ARC under the Linkage grant scheme.
Optium Corporation Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements made in this press release that are not based on historical information are forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, Optium Corporation's business outlook. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Optium Corporation's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. In particular, the risks and uncertainties include, among other things: risks associated with integrating a newly-acquired business; risks associated with changes in the demand for the Company's products and/or aggressive competition, which may force the Company to reduce prices; risks associated with the development and acceptance of new products and product features; risks associated with the Company's dependence on a limited number of customers for a significant percentage of its revenues; risks associated with dependence on a limited number of component suppliers and/or increased demand for components, which could lead to shortages that could disrupt or delay company shipments; risks associated with making significant investments in the expansion of the business and with increased expenditures; risks associated with the Company's products being dependent upon the ability to anticipate and quickly respond to evolving technologies and customer requirements; risks associated with becoming subject to defending and resolving allegations or claims of infringement of intellectual property rights; risks associated with others infringing on the Company's intellectual property rights; risks associated with the Company's ability to retain existing personnel and recruit and retain qualified personnel; risks associated with rapidly changing technology and the ability of the Company to introduce new products on a timely and cost-effective basis; risks associated with changes in the competitive or regulatory environment in which the Company operates; and other risks. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Optium Corporation undertakes no obligation to update or revise its forward looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by Optium Corporation, see the disclosure contained in Optium Corporation's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors included in Optium Corporation's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed March 7, 2007. All filings are available through the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or from Optium Corporation's web site at www.optium.com.
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