HORSHAM, Pa., Feb. 21, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Optium Corporation (Nasdaq:OPTM), a leading supplier of high-performance optical subsystems, today announced development of the industry's first Mixed Channel Plan (MCP) WSS ROADM. MCP will be available on Optium's recently announced High Resolution WSS platform. Enabled by Optium's proprietary LCoS-based WSS technology, MCP will give users the ability to change the channel plan of the WSS ROADM on the fly, allowing operators to future proof their networks as traffic deployment evolves from 10Gb/s to 40Gb/s to 100GbE. In addition, Optium's High Resolution WSS platform with MCP will allow a channel plan to be switched in the field between ITU spacings of 50GHz, 100GHz, or an arbitrary mix of the two. Product sampling will take place over the next several months.
Optium's LCoS based WSS technology provides virtually a seamless spectrum that can be reconfigured through software. This core technology will allow for future MCP enhancements, including the implementation of customer specific channel plans for specialized applications and channel contouring, where the bandwidth of a channel may be tuned to optimize system performance.
"The key market driver behind our MCP and High Resolution WSS platform is the accelerating use of 40Gb/s and planning for 100GbE transport in network upgrades as carriers tackle increasing demands on bandwidth capacity," stated Steve Frisken, Vice President of Wavelength Products for Optium Corporation. "We understand that next generation wavelength switching infrastructure must be flexible enough to be able to respond to changing requirements and transmission innovation. Optium's High Resolution WSS platform and advanced features, such as MCP, is designed to address those needs.
"The continued expansion of our ROADM family of products is consistent with Optium's approach to 40Gb/s transmission, where we have developed the industry's broadest line of 40Gb/s 300 pin modules in response to market trends," added Frisken. "Together, our goal is to provide our customers with a host of next generation transmission and switching capabilities. We are delivering the functions and flexibility they seek, while developing new avenues of growth for Optium."
Optium's WSS ROADM portfolio -- the only ROADM on the market today based on liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) technology -- includes:
* 100GHz WSS Platform: Available in 1 x 4, 1 x 5, 1 x 8, 1 x 9
configurations. Advanced features include drop and continue and
integrated channel monitor.
* High Resolution Platform: Available in 1 x 4, 1 x 8
configurations. Advanced features include drop and continue,
mixed channel plan and integrated channel monitor.
Optium's High Resolution and 100GHz WSS ROADM platforms will be showcased at the Optical Fiber Communications Conference/National Fiber Optics Engineers Conference (OFC/NFOEC) in San Diego. Optium representatives will be available at Booth #2839 from February 26-28, 2008.
About Optium Corporation
Optium is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance optical subsystems supporting core to the edge applications for use in telecommunications and cable TV network systems. Optium's broad suite of optical transport solutions feature fixed and wavelength agile 10Gb/s and 40Gb/s transceivers and subsystems, 10Gb/s pluggable transceivers, cable TV trunking and distribution subsystems and Optium's next generation WSS ROADM product line. Quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "OPTM," Optium is headquartered in Horsham, Pennsylvania and has offices in Sydney, Australia and Nes Ziona, Israel. For more information, visit http://www.optium.com.
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, the anticipated expansion and performance of the 40Gb/s product portfolio of Optium Corporation (the "Company") as well as expected demand for such products. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company'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 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 products being dependent upon the ability to anticipate and quickly respond to evolving technologies and customer requirements; 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 December 13, 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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