New details clarify Opnext/Juniper 100G transaction

Opnext (NASDAQ: OPXT) sources say that, contrary to what Lightwave reported March 11, the company sold an implementation of its 100-Gbps ASIC intellectual property (IP) to Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR), not the IP itself.

Juniper received an IP core, plus a license to use all patentable ideas associated with the core, for $26 million. In turn it licensed use of the core back to Opnext, in case the module vendor had a need for it. Opnext retained ownership of the patents, trade secrets, etc., used to develop the core -- which opens the door for Opnext to discuss arrangements involving different implementations of the same IP with other companies.

All other details of the deal are as we originally reported -- including the boost to Juniper’s burgeoning optical transport work (see the updated version of "Opnext, Juniper Networks in coherent 100G ASIC deal"). For example, the company is working on optical interface technology for its recently announced PTX Series Packet Transport Switch.

September 30, 2011

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