In the mid 1960s, it became clear to the researchers at Corning, and to the communications industry as a whole, that the existing copper wire infrastructure used to transfer data and voice would not have enough bandwidth for the impending increase in traffic. A new solution was needed. Corning believed that optical fiber could provide the needed bandwidth.
There were, however, several obstacles in the way, the most important obstacle being the loss of light as it traveled along the length of the fiber. The Corning researchers, Dr. Bob Maurer, Dr. Peter Schultz and Dr. Donald Keck, were convinced that once this problem was addressed, fiber optics would revolutionize the telecommunications industry. It is here that Corning demonstrated its knack for innovation and problem-solving. Other companies were relying on the same assumptions in a race to be the first company to achieve low-loss optical fiber. Corning, however, pursued a contrary approach, employed innovative strategies and outsmarted the competition. After four years of trial and error, experimentation and learning, Corning unveiled an optical fiber with a loss of less than 20 dB/km.
The story obviously doesn’t end there. Corning also had to create manufacturing processes, design long-haul technology and enhance and modify its optical fiber as the technology in this dynamic industry matured.
The never-ending pursuit of faster, better and cheaper communication keeps researchers on their toes continually looking for more ways to improve people’s lives through communication. Corning will continue its innovative ways and will continue to be at the forefront of future breakthrough technologies.
Learn more about our innovative history.
Read a feature on one of the inventors of optical fiber, Don Keck.