Short Take: Tellium launches new optical equipment

Start-up Tellium announced a new optical routing device that can handle existing telecommunications traffic as well as an upcoming evolution in networks that will likely lead to all-optical based systems. The new equipment, called the Aurora Full Spectrum line, is expected to ship next month. Tellium currently has two announced customers, including service provider Extant and the Federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The new device--a third generation of Tellium's technology--combines the ability to turn electrical signals into photonic beams of light as well as pure optical switching, according to chief executive Harry Carr.