- 06 September 2006 -

NeoPhotonics Acquires BeamExpress

NeoPhotonics, a supplier of fibre optic component and module solutions for long-haul, metro and FTTX networks, announced a significant expansion of its product line for high-capacity enterprise networks via the acquisition of BeamExpress, Inc. of Sunnyvale.
BeamExpress represents an important complement to three other recent (June 2006) strategic acquisitions - LightConnect, Inc., OpTun, Inc., and patents concerning MEMS devices from MEMX Corp.

BeamExpress currently offers an extensive line of multi-mode transceivers for enterprise and storage applications. Based on CWDM technology, these products include 10 Gb/s LX4 X2 and LX4 Xenpak transceivers. The company has the capability to extend this technology to next generation applications requiring 40 Gb/s data rates and beyond.
BeamExpress started in 2001 as a privately held company specializing in the design and manufacture of 10 Gb/s fiber optic component solutions for next generation network systems and test equipment manufacturers. BeamExpress uses proprietary technology in the packaging of multi-channel transceivers and is shipping in volume from its manufacturing facilities in Asia.

"We were attracted by the impressive level of customer acceptance of the BeamExpress 10GbE LX4 transceivers. This is not surprising as the company provides leading network enterprise equipment manufacturers with transceivers that are guaranteed to work 100 percent in legacy multimode fiber applications," said Tim Jenks, CEO of NeoPhotonics. "NeoPhotonics has an extensive product line of transceivers for telecom, enterprise and storage area networks, including SFF, SFP and XFP transceivers with data rates up to 2.5Gb/s and 10 Gb/s. This acquisition allows NeoPhotonics to address this important network segment of installed legacy multimode fiber with X2 and other advanced form factor transceivers."

"Through the successful development and qualification of its 10 Gb/s products, the BeamExpress team has demonstrated its capability to compete successfully at the cutting edge of technology, " stated Peter O. Clark, CEO of BeamExpress. "The ability to synergize proprietary electro/optical/mechanical design approaches with custom firmware development has resulted in a product approach with demonstrated cost and performance advantages over those of competing products. The combination of BeamExpress' product expertise with the global footprint and manufacturing resources of NeoPhotonics will open up new and broader markets for our current and future products."

The acquisition of BeamExpress, Inc. is independent and unrelated to the BeamExpress SA entity of Lausanne, Switzerland, which will continue to operate as an independent company.

www.neophotonics.com