<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of JDS Uniphase
Corporation for the registration of 96,153,846 shares of its common stock and to
the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated July 21, 2003, with
respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of JDS Uniphase
Corporation included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended June
30, 2003, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                             ERNST & YOUNG LLP

San Jose, California
November 14, 2003

