Oz I would strongly recommend that everyone read the Oct 18 Laser Focus World article that Wake posted in the off topic. Thanks for pointing it out.

http://digital.laserfocusworld.com/laserfocusworld/201810/MobilePagedReplica.action?pm=2&folio=26#pg28

For people who want to know in a very clear and understandable way why POET is on this path with the optical interposer this article makes it very clear. As you read the article keep in mind what POET adds that sets it apart.

Also when answering the question: Why is it taking so long? It might not be something that we want to hear but I think that Suresh has tried to impress on us that they are building a platform not just a product. So they are developing the platform to be as versatile as it possibly can so that future work to expand the applications in data and sensing can be achieved with greater efficiency…something for everyone.

You get a POET platform and you get a POET platform.

What makes POET so special is the material set which allows for excellent application to a wide range of wavelengths of interest. So a platform that can be used across many current and future product applications. That material set has been configured in such a way as to isolate the thermal profile so that temperature can be controlled to optimize the refractive index and it is athermal which means changes in refractive index due to temperature variation is automatically adjusted/corrected by the properties of the waveguide.

Tighter refractive index control allows for tighter and more precise channel separation.  Which again makes future applications with greater channel density on a single fiber possible. POET is not talking about this but it very possible that over time this platform will allow for new WDM standards that take advantage of the dielectric optical interposer properties.

The biggest single advantage is cost. It is the lowest cost solution because it is a CMOS friendly approach and it has power advantages which are being added to by the choices this company is making in whose technology they are integrating into the platform.