Finisar Demonstrates World's First 1x9 Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) With Flexgrid(TM) Technology at OFC 2011

SUNNYVALE, CA--(Marketwire - March 8, 2011) - Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ: FNSR) today announced that it will show the world's first public demonstration of a 1x9 WSS with Flexgrid™ technology at the Optical Fiber Communications (OFC) exhibition held this week in Los Angeles, California. The 1x9 WSS with Flexgrid™ is part of Finisar's reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADM) portfolio. It has been specifically designed to enable telecommunications carriers to migrate to higher data rates, including 400 Gb/s and beyond, without replacing deployed WSS modules. This demonstration will take place in Finisar's booth #1701, March 8-10, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. 

Finisar's Flexgrid™ technology is unique in its ability to allow carriers to dynamically change channel spacing to precisely match required signal bandwidth with minimal wasted optical spectrum. Specifically, current ROADM deployments concentrate on fixed 50 GHz channel spacing, which can support data rates up to 100 Gb/s. By leveraging adjustable channel spacing from 50 to 200 GHz in spacing increments of 12.5 GHz, Flexgrid™ enables carriers to efficiently carry all future transmission formats up to 1 Tb/s on existing ROADM infrastructure, at whatever bandwidth these signals may require.

A key aspect of the demonstration is the flexibility and performance of Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) technology which serves as the architectural foundation for Finisar's WSS platform. The LCoS architecture enables Flexgrid™ technology to be implemented through firmware and calibration changes alone. Furthermore, existing ITU standard 50 GHz and 100 GHz grids are fully supported, with no performance penalty.

"We believe that Flexgrid™ is the critical technology that will allow tier-one carriers to efficiently deploy next-generation networks," said Eitan Gertel, CEO, Finisar Corporation. "Based on our proven LCoS architecture, Finisar's 1x9 WSS module with Flexgrid™ continues to demonstrate our commitment to leading the optical communications industry with the key technologies that serve as the foundation for reliable, high-performance networks."

The 1x9 WSS with Flexgrid™ technology is now shipping. In addition to this demonstration, Finisar will display equipment from its wide portfolio of optical products including transceivers, transponders, wavelength selective switches, active cables, advanced optical components, and passive devices.

About Finisar
Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ: FNSR) is a global technology leader for fiber optic subsystems and components that enable high-speed voice, video and data communications for telecommunications, networking, storage, wireless, and cable TV applications. For more than 20 years, Finisar has provided critical optics technologies to system manufacturers to meet the increasing demands for network bandwidth and storage. Finisar is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, USA with R&D, manufacturing sites, and sales offices worldwide. For additional information, visit www.finisar.com.

SAFE HARBOR UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based upon information available to Finisar as of the date hereof, and Finisar assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Examples of such risks include those associated with: the uncertainty of customer demand for Finisar's products; the rapidly evolving markets for Finisar's products and uncertainty regarding the development of these markets; Finisar's historical dependence on sales to a limited number of customers and fluctuations in the mix of products and customers in any period; ongoing new product development and introduction of new and enhanced products; the challenges of rapid growth followed by periods of contraction; and intensive competition. Further information regarding these and other risks relating to Finisar's business is set forth in Finisar's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly SEC filings.

Finisar is a registered trademark and Flexgrid is a pending trademark of Finisar Corporation.

Contact Information:

MEDIA CONTACT:
Victoria McDonald
Finisar Corporation
(408) 542-4261
victoria.mcdonald@finisar.com