Vertical cavity lasers for datalinks

Abstract

The commercialization of vertical cavity lasers (VCSELs) forces rethinking the optimum choice of wavelength and sources for data link market segments. These choices will be reviewed. In this paper I would like to make a few comments about the 850 versus 980 nm VCSEL choice. Within the standard's decision process all major arguments are based on technical criteria but decisions are not entirely made based on technical merits. Companies participating in the standards process realize the commercial benefit of a standard but also realize that each company is maneuvering the decisions to enhance its ability to compete.