Corning bends light around corners

Corning has developed an optical fibre-based technology that allows light to be bent around corners, solving the major technical challenge for carriers installing fibre-to-the-home.

The technology is based on a nanostructure optical fibre design that allows the cabled fibre to be bent around very tight corners with virtually no signal loss.

These improved attributes will enable telecoms carriers economically to offer high-speed internet, voice and HDTV services to virtually all commercial and residential buildings, according to the company.

Current optical fibre installations lose signal strength and effectiveness when bent around corners and routed through a building, making it difficult and expensive to run fibre all the way to customers' homes.

"This is a game-changing technology for telecoms applications," said Peter Volanakis, president and chief operating officer at Corning.

"We have developed an optical fibre cable that is as rugged as copper cable but with all of the bandwidth benefits of fibre."

By making fundamental changes in the way light travels in the fibre, Corning was able to create a new optical fibre which it claims is over 100 times more flexible than standard fibres.

"Corning's newest fibre technology achieves this while maintaining compatibility with industry performance standards, existing manufacturing processes and installation procedures," added Volanakis.

"Customers do not have to sacrifice one benefit to get another."

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