Lucent Technologies and NTT will jointly develop devices for NTT's optical access networks

Business Wire, June 25, 1996

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 25, 1996--Lucent Technologies' Microelectronics Group (formerly AT&T Microelectronics) and NTT have signed an agreement to jointly develop optical modules to be used in NTT's optical access networks.

Under the terms of the multi-year contract, the companies will collaborate on the development of this new, low-cost, easy to manufacture optical module. The optical module is used to perform optical-to-electrical and electrical-to-optical signal conversions of 1.3 micron bi-directional digital transmissions, over optical fiber, for voice and data. It also will be used for distribution of downstream 1.5-micron video signals carried over the same fiber.

The optical module is one of the critical components of a device known as an optical network unit which is located at the customer's residence and serves as the customer interface to the network.

"We'll be working closely with NTT on ways to reduce the cost of the optical module," explained John Pilitsis, vice president of Lucent's Optoelectronic unit.

"New component technologies, processing and mass production techniques will be part of the project," he explained.

"Many technologies, such as expanded beam lasers, laser passivation techniques, and silicon waveguide platforms being developed by Bell Laboratories will now be brought into commercial manufacturing, along with high-volume production techniques for chip placement, fiber alignment and fiber fixing," Pilitsis added.

"By coordinating development with several vendors, NTT intends to standardize the optical module, thus greatly enhancing the interchangeability of the optics among the system's vendors," said Tetsuhiko Ikegami, senior vice president at NTT. Lucent is the only U.S.-based company to be part of this collaboration.

Lucent Technologies was formed as the result of AT&T's restructuring into three separate, publicly held companies. In addition to optoelectronic components, its Microelectronics Group designs and manufactures integrated circuits and power systems for the data networking and telecommunications industries.

Lucent Technologies also offers public and private networks, communications systems and software, and consumer and business telephone systems. Bell Laboratories is the research and development arm of the new company.

CONTACT: Roni DeCesare

908/508-8412 (office)

201/361-6223 (home)

mercd@attme.att.com

or

Michael Jacobs

908/508-8225 (office)

201/736-0939 (home)

mejacobs@lucent.com