The cycloidal OAGs have already been proven to be very efficient in beam steering and optical switching.

In September 2000, Tellium and Qwest announced a "multimillion-dollar strategic relationship for optical switching."

In the telecom area, there is a shift from circuit-based to optical switching.

Since 1983 he worked as a consultant to AT&T, developing mechanisms for optical switching.

Though the invention has yet to make its way into a commercial product, many researchers still think that optical switching will become an essential component for the data networks of the future.

Mr. Huang set up a company, Terabit Routers, that initially pursued the idea of building a super-router based on optical switching.

The company operates in European and North American markets and transports content across its optical switching and dynamic transport mode network.

"Six months ago it was optical switching and a year ago it was business-to-business, but now I don't know of a fad."

Both effects lead to large changes of the optical properties near the absorption edge which are useful for intensity modulation and optical switching.

Perhaps the leading company in optical switching, Sycamore Networks Inc., recently offered shares to the public and now has a market value of more than $18 billion.