Corning develops new optical fiber technology

Corning has announced the development of a new optical fiber-based technology that solves a major technical challenge for telecommunications carriers installing fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks. Corning's breakthrough is based on a nanoStructures optical fiber design that allows the cabled fiber to be bent around tight corners with virtually no signal loss.

These improved attributes will enable telecommunications carriers to economically offer high-speed Internet, voice and HDTV services to commercial and residential (apartment and condominium) buildings. Current fiber-optic installations lose signal strength and effectiveness when bent around corners and routed through a building, making it difficult and expensive to run fiber all the way to consumers’ homes.

One of the early proponents of this emerging technology was Verizon Communications. In February of this year, Corning and Verizon commissioned a joint working team to solve the problems of multiple dwelling unit installations using this new fiber solution.

With Corning's new nanoStructures design, the optical fiber maintains its signal strength when bent or curved, with performance results 100 times better than standard single-mode fibers. The new fiber also enables simpler and more aesthetically pleasing designs for the cable, hardware and equipment used in the deployment.

Corning will introduce a full suite of optical fiber, cable and hardware and equipment solutions based on its nanoStructures technology platform this fall at the Fiber-to-the-Home Conference in Orlando, FL, Sept. 30–Oct. 4.

For more information about Corinig, visit www.corning.com.