On 10/18/2000 Tellium (NYSE:TELM) acquired Astarte Fiber Networks Inc and wit it key fiber-optic patent rights held by the smaller firm. the acquisition expanded Tellium's intellectual property in all-optical switching equipment - its flagship product - the Aurora Full-Spectrum switch. The switch is designed to exploit the bit-rate independent carrying potential of all-optical switches, managing and controlling a backbone up to OC-768. Three patents reaped immediate rewards for the Oceanport, NJ, company, with the licensing of servo and control systems for micro electro-mechanical systems patents to Corning Inc., for its optical fiber, cable and photonic product line. With Astarte patents being a key reason for the acquisition, the strength and value of such intellectual property validated through license by a company of Corning's caliber. TManageent of the acquiring firm indicated acquisition a major milestone in the development of Aurora Full-Spectrum all-optical switch in enabling competiton with Nortel Networks CIENA Corp. and Sycamore Networks Inc.
