Huawei increases use of Australian optical switch

Stephen Withers
Monday, 12 July 2010 12:06

IT Industry - Deals

An expanded supply agreement between Huawei and NSW-based Finisar Australia will see an increase in the local manufacture of a key component of fibre optic networks.

Finisar already supplies its Dynamic Wavelength Processor (DWP) - an intelligent wavelength selective switch - to Huawei, but a new contract will see the company employ another 20 people in order to step up production.

The DWP is locally designed and manufactured, and each unit takes up to nine days to assemble. It can switch individual optical channels between up to 10 optical fibre ports.

The original contract between the two companies led to 75 new jobs at Finisar, which expects to employ 300 people by the end of the year - a significant increase on the 2009 headcount of 125 staff.

"This contract with Huawei means that Finisar's Australian-designed and Australian-made optical components will be used globally in Huawei's world-leading fibre solutions," said Finisar Australia vice president and general manager, Allen Conduit.

Huawei Australia CEO Guo Fulin said "With Australia playing such an important role in Huawei's global operations, it's great to see an Australian-made component going into our world-leading fibre solutions."

Not surprisingly, the NSW Government welcomed the contract - see page 2.