Corning TXF™ Optical Fiber Advances Next Generation Long-Haul Networks

Corning TXF™ Optical Fiber Advances Next Generation Long-Haul Networks

Corning Demonstrates TXF™ Optical Fiber at OFC

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Optical Communications
Corning TXF™ Optical Fiber Advances Next Generation Long-Haul Networks
Corning TXF™ Optical Fiber Advances Next Generation Long-Haul Networks
CORNING, N.Y. | Corning Incorporated | March 12, 2018
Collaborations demonstrated at OFC Conference confirm superior performance

Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) will demonstrate its latest optical fiber innovation at the 2018 Optical Networking and Communication Conference & Exhibition (OFC), March 13-15 in San Diego, California.

Corning® TXF™ fiber enables high data-rate transmission over longer spans and extended reach for improved network flexibility and lower network cost. TXF fiber, an ultra-low loss, silica-core fiber with large effective area, is ITU-T G.654.E compliant, highlighting the industry’s recognition of the value that large effective-area fiber can bring to the terrestrial market.

“Building on Corning’s technology and market leadership in both terrestrial and submarine fiber, TXF fiber incorporates many of the benefits of submarine fiber into a solution for the terrestrial high-data-rate fiber market. This comes at a time when increased bandwidth intensity makes the transition to higher data rates inevitable. TXF fiber delivers exceptional terrestrial reach capability for high-channel speed transmission,” said Jeanne Propst, vice president of product line management, Corning Optical Fiber and Cable.

As networks increasingly migrate from 100G to 200G protocols and beyond, fiber enabling longer spans and longer reach can improve performance and lower total cost of ownership for operators. TXF fiber allows more efficient network design and additional network margin. This provides operators with improved network flexibility for higher bit rates, extended span lengths, and fewer amplification/ regeneration sites, even as higher throughput requires increasingly stringent optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) performance.

Ultra-low loss and large effective area are two key attributes that allow network operators to improve OSNR, and therefore extend capacity and reach limits. Corning will demonstrate these key TXF fiber attributes at the OFC conference with BT and with Infinera.

A joint research paper with leading global telecom operator BT will be presented at the OFC Technical Symposium. The paper describes a detailed study comparing the performance of TXF fiber to standard single-mode fiber for operation of 400G single-carrier transmission in an ultra-spectrally efficient 1.2 Tb/s superchannel. The study demonstrates the superior capability of TXF fiber to suppress non-linear signal distortion, thereby extending reach through a combination of higher allowable launch power and lower loss.

“Widespread adoption of high-definition and 4K streaming TV services is driving nearly 50 percent growth in demand for bandwidth. Optical fiber underpins this growth, making it vital for us to explore the practical capacity limits of optical fiber transmission,” said Professor Tim Whitley, BT’s managing director of Research & Innovation. “Working with Corning, one of the world’s leading innovators in optical fiber technology, gives us critical insight into emerging fiber types, allowing us to explore the fundamentals of optical performance with an aim to enhance the speed, reach, and ultimate capacity of our optical networks.”

Also at OFC, Corning will jointly demonstrate with network solutions provider Infinera (booth #4547) a 600-km link of TXF fiber used to connect Infinera’s FlexILS™ flexible grid C+L line system and XT-3300 C- and L-band meshponders, illustrating the ability to scale capacity up to 55 Tb/s per fiber by employing 16-QAM signaling and a broader optical spectrum in both the C+L bands.

“Infinera is pleased to work with Corning to demonstrate how our combined leading-edge technologies can maximize fiber capacity and reach,” said Matt Mitchell, vice president, Optical Systems Architecture, at Infinera. “Large network operators need to take advantage of the latest innovations in both optical fiber and coherent transmission technology in order to meet their rapid capacity scaling challenges.”

“These are two additional examples of Corning’s unique co-innovation approach; we’re collaborating with world-leading telecommunications operators and network solutions providers to demonstrate how advanced fiber solutions can address network capacity challenges now and in the future,” Propst said. “We are most grateful to both BT and to Infinera for each separately taking the time and effort to study and demonstrate how this product performs with current and emerging technologies.”

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which are based on current expectations and assumptions about Corning’s financial results and business operations, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include: the effect of global political, economic and business conditions; conditions in the financial and credit markets; currency fluctuations; tax rates; product demand and industry capacity; competition; reliance on a concentrated customer base; manufacturing efficiencies; cost reductions; availability of critical components and materials; new product commercialization; pricing fluctuations and changes in the mix of sales between premium and non-premium products; new plant start-up or restructuring costs; possible disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity, armed conflict, political or financial instability, natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, or major health concerns; adequacy of insurance; equity company activities; acquisition and divestiture activities; the level of excess or obsolete inventory; the rate of technology change; the ability to enforce patents; product and components performance issues; retention of key personnel; stock price fluctuations; and adverse litigation or regulatory developments. These and other risk factors are detailed in Corning’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.

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About Corning Incorporated

Corning (www.corning.com) is one of the world's leading innovators in materials science, with a 166-year track record of life-changing inventions. Corning applies its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramic science, and optical physics along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people's lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in RD&E, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and deep, trust-based relationships with customers who are global leaders in their industries.

Corning's capabilities are versatile and synergistic, which allows the company to evolve to meet changing market needs, while also helping our customers capture new opportunities in dynamic industries. Today, Corning's markets include optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, display technology, automotive, and life sciences vessels. Corning's industry-leading products include damage-resistant cover glass for mobile devices; precision glass for advanced displays; optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions for state-of-the-art communications networks; trusted products to accelerate drug discovery and delivery; and clean-air technologies for cars and trucks.