I think the closer POET gets to product launch the more careful Suresh will be in choosing his words. We have been told in the past that the qualification time period is dependent on the customer. At this point in time as POET gets closer to delivering final products management are sticking to typical time lines. The thing is the LightBar is not a typical product. We know from Intel’s presentation that industry looks at individual applications to determine acceptable failure rates (Failure in Time). The LightBar laser they are producing for Switch ASIC Co-Packaged Optics are remote and can be replaced as needed or even  upgraded with product revision. My understanding is that these are continuous wave lasers so they are not  directly modulated and really could not be as they are remote so basically I think we are talking about  an external power supply and fiber attach. The way the fiber is attached is the key.  It does not leak and it is not active.  It is passive so we are not talking about any control electronics as it is all at the other end at the optical module as close as possible to the switch.

So a really simple analogy would be if a laser fails the LightBar gets replaced like a light bulb. That is unless there is redundancy but that would seem to be overkill. And since it is a low cost solution and new there will no doubt be an inventory of spares. 

I am only guessing but the customer may request lasers that have a higher capacity than required or operate at reduced load along with the new switches and gradually ramp up the power over time while measuring performance.

Yes this application is anything but typical and POET management have no doubt agreed to use a cautionary tone until the first products are out the door and in the field.  Remember they also have to be in lock step with the customers communications regarding their timelines.

Frankly I would be more concerned with the optical module that is  expected to operate  at  high temperatures. But then again failures  of  the  module may incentivize the customer to  look at replacement with  POET's athermal solutions.