[Williams Communications to Use Corning's New LEAF Optical Fiber to Expand U.S. Network]
(doing the math, it looks like WMB's new network will have an average of eight fibers along its 32,000 miles; LVLT will have an average of 60 fibers along its 20,000 miles... -- mark)
CORNING, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 1998--Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) announced today that Williams Communications (NYSE:WMB) will deploy 400,000 kilometers of Corning's new LEAF(TM) optical fiber as part of its effort to more than double the size of its U.S. network by the end of 2001, to a total of 32,000 route miles. The fiber will be cabled by Siecor of Hickory, N.C., which is jointly owned by Corning and Siemens.
Williams said it would begin installing LEAF fiber this summer to expand its network in Florida, to establish a new route in the Midwest, and to provide added service to selected markets. The installation of LEAF fiber is expected to be completed by mid-1999.
According to Williams, LEAF fiber will be used for dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) applications supporting numerous multimedia transmission services. The Williams network will be capable of delivering up to 80 gigabits of information per second on a single fiber.
LEAF, which Corning introduced four months ago, allows more communication channels to be transmitted over longer distances and at faster speeds than is possible using conventional optical fiber.
Today's announcement follows an announcement on April 30h that Level 3 Communications will deploy two million kilometers of Corning's LEAF fiber in a nationwide network due to be completed by 2001.
Commenting on the Williams contract, Corning's President of Communications John W. Loose said, "The selection of LEAF fiber by Williams Communications and other leading telecommunications companies has quickly established LEAF as the best-selling high-bandwidth fiber on the market."
Established in 1851, Corning creates leading-edge technologies for the fastest growing segments of the world's economy. For communications and communications-related industries, Corning manufactures optical fiber, optical-networking components, high-performance glass and components for television, and other electronic displays and equipment. Corning also manufactures advanced materials for scientific and environmental markets. Corning's total revenues in 1997 were $3.5 billion.
Williams is the first carrier to introduce a fully integrated architecture to support all of its wholesale services. Current services supported across Williams' network include private line, Internet protocol, frame relay and ATM. The company plans to have more than 100 cities connected when the expansion is completed. |
