September 27, 2007 -- Corning Incorporated announced plans to introduce its ClearCurve ultrabendable optical fiber-based suite of products at the Fiber-to-the-Home Conference in Orlando, FL, Sept. 30 to Oct. 3.
The company's ClearCurve line is based on its recently announced nanoStructures fiber design, which makes the optical fiber cable as rugged as copper cable and makes installation easier for FTTH networks in multidwelling units (MDUs) such as high-rise apartment buildings and condominium complexes.
"Our solution incorporates a new optical fiber that provides significantly improved bending performance with virtually no signal loss," says Peter F. Volanakis, president and chief operating officer. "Our new cable design is far more flexible, yet rugged, and is easier to route within buildings than today's standard coax cable. And we have reduced the size and improved the performance of bulky hardware cabinetry, giving building owners and developers an aesthetically appealing solution, while making it easier for carriers to install."
Corning will demonstrate ClearCurve's performance through a two-story apartment unit installation simulation at the conference. The company says telecommunications carriers will see firsthand how the product line will allow them to design optical fiber cable into complex environments and provide their customers the "near-infinite bandwidth benefits of true FTTH."
Verizon Communications Inc. has been working closely with Corning to solve the challenges of fiber installation in high-rise apartment and condominium complexes. An early proponent of the fiber suite, Verizon has previously noted that this fiber technology could be very promising for delivery of its FiOS Internet and FiOS TV products.
According to Corning, the new fiber suite is critical in MDU FTTH deployments because it shows improved performance over current optical fiber installations that lose signal strength and effectiveness when bent around corners and routed through a building. Corning ClearCurve optical fiber, cable, hardware, and equipment products solve these installation challenges, the company says.
"Since announcing this groundbreaking technology development in July, we have received overwhelming interest from customers around the world," says Volanakis. "Now, with ClearCurve products, our customers can economically displace traditional copper wire solutions in multiple dwelling units and deliver ultrafast Internet speeds and higher-quality high-definition content that can only be made available with optical fiber."