MIND YOUR MODULES

As a vendor whose optical test equipment is used by product manufacturers in the design and pre-deployment phases, Tektronix is not always directly affected by every rise and dip in the carrier market. But there was no escaping the broad industry downturn of last year.

Layoffs at some of its top manufacturer customers such as Nortel Networks left a glut of test equipment on the market and in Tektronix product inventories, said P.J. Kleffner, optical regional marketing manager of the Americas for Tektronix. Though the company is beginning to see more activity, carriers still need to reduce capital expenses. And ultimately, the pressure is on vendors like Tektronix to respond.

The company recently announced the OTS 92000 jitter test module for its OTS product family, as well as new 10 Gb/s Ethernet and G.709 spec optical sampling modules for its CSA/TDS 8000B signal analyzer system. “The module oriented approach allows us to respond more quickly to the need for new testing applications and helps our customers avoid the cost of having to buy whole new systems,” Kleffner said.

Meanwhile, Tektronix expects that the gig-E module will come at the right time for many of its traditional manufacturer customers, which are now being called on by carriers to integrate optical solutions with standard end user technology such as Ethernet.

The gig-E module also may help Tektronix broaden its customer base to the relatively young realm of optical Ethernet vendors, a market where it is just beginning to make headway.
— Dan O'Shea
www.tektronix.com