Toshiba Develops Fiber-Optic Devices For Auto LANs

TOKYO February 20, 2003; Dow Jones repeated that Kyodo News reported that Toshiba said today it has developed new fiber-optic receiver and transmitter devices for local area networks in automobiles, Kyodo News reported.

The new devices can operate at temperatures ranging from minus 40C to 85C and deliver data at a speed of 125 megabits per second - more than three times faster than current optical transmitters and receivers for automotive LAN, Toshiba said.

The development will open the way to LAN systems supporting advanced, high- speed entertainment systems in automobiles, the electronics maker said, according to the report.

The new devices will be available in sample quantities in April, and mass production is expected to start in October at a monthly volume of 500,000 sets, the company said.