Huawei and Finisar sign new MoU regarding Australian broadband technology

AUSTRALIA July 20, 2011 – Huawei Australia announced today that it has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Finisar Australia Pty Ltd. regarding a wide range of Australian-designed fibre optic technology products that Huawei expects to implement in its world-leading fibre solutions. The MoU covers several new types of Wavelength Selective Switches (WSS). While the MoU contains no binding agreement to purchase Finisar products, the Finisar WSS products are expected to be key components in Huawei’s next-generation fibre broadband networks. Additionally, Huawei is undertaking technical trials of Finisar’s Australian-developed Flexgrid™ technology, which is designed to ensure networks are future-proofed for the dramatic increases expected in broadband data traffic.

“Huawei is already deploying National Broadband Network-style fibre networks in the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, the UAE and Brunei, and this Australian technology is a key part of the innovation Huawei is delivering with fibre,” said Huawei Australia Chief Technology Officer Peter Rossi. “By entering into this MoU with Finisar, Huawei expects to include more Australian technology in the networks which are delivering high-speed broadband around the world. This MoU is a vote of confidence in Australia’s research and development capabilities into next-generation broadband technologies.”

Huawei has been testing a range of Finisar’s Australian WSS technology in its fibre network equipment throughout the year. Following successful technology trials, Huawei expects to increase the range of WSS devices supplied by Finisar from the Dynamic Wavelength Processors (DWPs) in use today to up to four different types to be implemented across Huawei’s solutions. Finisar’s WSS product research and development is performed in the company’s facility in Sydney, NSW, Australia.

In addition to the increased range of WSS devices, Huawei has begun trials of Finisar’s Flexgrid™ technology, which is also designed in Australia. Flexgrid™ is a new innovation which is designed to ensure networks are future-proofed for the dramatic increases expected in broadband data traffic.

“Finisar is proud to be working closely with Huawei as a leading supplier of high quality WSS devices,” said Finisar Australia General Manager Andrew Bartos. “We look forward to enhancing this relationship through further integration of industry-leading Finisar WSS technologies into Huawei’s current and next generation systems.”