andech1.
You are close to the mark with your last post.
Allow me to add more meat to it.
There were 2 significant POET developments during the timespan between the initial original RFP call in 2016 and the second "pushed back" RFP call in 2017 (submission deadline Thursday this week).
1.0 The functional VCSEL was completed. This was announced earlier this year.
2.0 Issues with the 4T needed a solid work-around; this POC was also completed, earlier this year.
It is reasonable to expect that either or or both of the above were sufficient enough to delay the RFP process.
But not now; roadblocks have gone.
And we also know for sure that no other company won the RFP. With respect to points 1.0 and 2.0 above, does anyone else really think another POET like entity has progressed as far as POET did in the last 6-12 months.
I seriuously doubt that.
ST