Corning Incorporated Introduces New Laser-Optimized Multimode Fiber: Corning InfiniCor CL Optical Fiber

Business Wire, Feb 23, 1999

CORNING, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 1999--Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) today introduced two new multimode fibers in its high-performance InfiniCor product line that will further revolutionize the performance and design of local area networks (LANs). The new "InfiniCor CL"(TM) series includes the company's newest and most advanced multimode optical fibers.

The InfiniCor CL series includes InfiniCor CL 1000 and InfiniCor CL 2000, both designed to operate in network link lengths that are longer than anything previously specified. For Gigabit Ethernet compliant links, InfiniCor CL 1000 fiber is guaranteed(1) to transmit up to 500 meters at 850 nanometers (nm) and 1000 meters at 1300 nm, while InfiniCor CL 2000 fiber is guaranteed(1) to transmit up to 600 meters at 850 nm and 2000 meters at 1300 nm.

Corning(R) InfiniCor CL fiber is tailored for all premises applications in the campus backbone, building riser, and horizontal segments of the local area network and are standards-compliant and fully compatible with the installed base of multimode fibers.

InfiniCor CL Sets New Industry Standards

In addition to extraordinary link lengths, InfiniCor CL fiber also is the first and only multimode fiber in the industry to eliminate the need for a mode conditioning patch cord. InfiniCor CL fiber's revolutionary measurements allow for an on-center launch of the laser signal, resulting in unmatched ease of installation and use.

InfiniCor CL fiber gives network planners a third important benefit: upgradability. InfiniCor CL fiber not only offers the longest multimode link lengths at Gigabit Ethernet speeds, but it also is designed to support operations at 2.5 and even 10 gigabits per second over hundreds of meters, another first in the industry.

"Local area networks have undergone an amazing transformation in the last 12 months," said Windsor Thomas, Corning's premises product line manager. "They have advanced from LED-based systems to precision, laser-based protocols, which can exceed the performance limits of standard multimode fiber. Corning has focused its research and development efforts on multimode fiber in order to provide a fiber that meets the LAN requirements of today, as well as tomorrow.

"InfiniCor CL multimode fiber has set new industry standards for Gigabit Ethernet by being the first fiber to guarantee link lengths up to 2 kilometers; the first fiber to be measured for laser bandwidth; the first and only multimode fiber to eliminate the need for a mode conditioning patch cord; and the first multimode fiber designed to support 2.5 and 10 gigabits per second. InfiniCor CL fiber is the first laser-optimized fiber(TM) and is offered exclusively by Corning," Thomas said.

Less than six months ago, Corning introduced its InfiniCor multimode fiber product line, which brought an unparalleled level of performance to the networking industry with its longer link lengths and measured performance based on laser applications. Corning's message of actual measurements to guarantee laser performance was well received. The company recently announced that it had already shipped its 100,000th kilometer of InfiniCor.

Corning introduced the first commercially viable optical fiber in 1970 and has since become an industry leader in the development, commercialization and manufacture of high-performance multimode and single-mode optical fibers.

Established in 1851, Corning Incorporated creates leading-edge technologies for the fastest-growing markets of the world's economy. Corning manufactures optical fiber, cable and photonic components for the telecommunications industry; and high-performance displays and components for television and other communications-related industries. The company also uses advanced materials to manufacture products for scientific, semiconductor and environmental markets. Corning's total revenues in 1998 were $3.5 billion. More information on the company is available at www.corning.com, Corning's website.

(1) Corning guarantees that InfiniCor fiber will perform up to its guaranteed link length for Gigabit Ethernet (IEEE 802.3z) speeds under associated cabler warranty programs. This guarantee applies only to links that are covered by a Corning-approved warranty program. The warranty program is implemented and serviced through various cable manufacturers. Actual warranty terms may vary from cabler to cabler.

(Editor's note: Corning is a registered trademark and InfiniCor and CL

are trademarks of Corning Incorporated.)

(Editor's note: An electronic copy of this release, as well as additional information about InfiniCor CL fiber, is available on our website (http://www.corningfiber.com).)