Corning Expands Portfolio of Photonic Fibers; OFC 2002 roll out of new L-Band and Extended L-Band erbium doped fibers, EDFA design software and reduced cladding coupler fiber.

Business and Technology Editors

Optical Fiber Communications 2002

CORNING, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 14, 2002

Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) today introduced two new advanced erbium fibers designed to improve the performance of L-Band and extended L-Band erbium doped fiber amplifiers.

Erbium fiber customers will now have the benefit of new amplifier modeling software designed specifically for use with Corning erbium fibers.

The company also unveiled a new reduced cladding coupler fiber that addresses coupler and device pigtailing applications. The 30-percent overall diameter reduction addresses the growing demand for smaller components in high-performance DWDM optical communication systems. These products and others will be introduced during the Optical Fiber Communications Conference (OFC 2002) March 17-22 in Anaheim, CA. (Booth #3021).

Corning's portfolio of new PureMode(TM) photonic fiber products and enhancements reflect industry-wide changes in DWDM component requirements. System designers are focused on more flexible products that help reduce overall system cost. Photonic fibers must provide high consistency, performance, reliability and uniformity, which are critical to evolving all-optical systems.

"Corning is adapting to customer needs at its two centers of excellence for manufacturing," said William T. Morris, commercial manager for PureMode Photonic Fiber. "With our operations at Corning OTI in Milan, Italy, and facilities here in Corning, New York, we're able to innovate and offer a very wide range of products using two distinct manufacturing processes."

Photonic fiber announcements from Corning:

-- Corning OTI expands its product line of L-Band active fibers for EDFAs by
introducing a new Extended L-Band erbium doped fiber. The EDF-LVPX-1 extends
the usable L-Band up to 1620 nm and beyond.

-- Corning OTI introduces three new reduced cladding fibers especially
developed for the fused coupler and device pigtailing markets. The fibers
(FDF-MNAR-0, FDF-MNAR-1 and FDF-LNAR-1) are used in very compact fused
splitters and couplers at signal wavelengths. Optimized splicing parameters
enable easier splicing with other reduced cladding or standard 125 micron
fiber.

-- Corning OTI announces it will offer coiled fibers to simplify customer
manufacturing processes. Active fibers are now wound onto standard or
customized mechanical coils, with both sides spliced to the most commonly used
fibers in EDFA components. Fiber coiling enables accurate interface between
customers' active fiber modules through fusion splices and tailoring to exact
fiber length.

Photonic fiber announcements from Corning OTI:

-- Corning OTI expands its product line of L-Band active fibers for EDFAs by
introducing a new Extended L-Band erbium doped fiber. The EDF-LVPX-1 extends
the usable L-Band up to 1620 nm and beyond.

-- Corning OTI introduces three new reduced cladding fibers especially
developed for the fused coupler and device pigtailing markets. The fibers
(FDF-MNAR-0, FDF-MNAR-1 and FDF-LNAR-1) are used in very compact fused
splitters and couplers at signal wavelengths. Optimized splicing parameters
enable easier splicing with other reduced cladding or standard 125 micron
fiber.

-- Corning OTI announces it will offer coiled fibers to simplify customer
manufacturing processes. Active fibers are now wound onto standard or
customized mechanical coils, with both sides spliced to the most commonly used
fibers in EDFA components. Fiber coiling enables accurate interface between
customers' active fiber modules through fusion splices and tailoring to exact
fiber length.

Established in 1851, Corning Incorporated (www.corning.com) creates leading-edge technologies for the fastest-growing markets of the world's economy. Corning manufactures optical fiber, cable and photonic products for the telecommunications industry; and high-performance displays and components for television, information technology and other communications-related industries. The company also uses advanced materials to manufacture products for scientific, semiconductor and environmental markets. Corning revenues for 2001 were $6.3 billion.