Saranskkabel Optika, Corning Sign Long-Term Supply Agreement for Optical Fiber.

Business Editors

CORNING, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 13, 2001

Three-year agreement provides Corning single-mode and multimode

optical fibers to Russian cabler

Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW), a world leading supplier of optical fiber, and Russian cabler Saranskkabel Optika announced today they have signed a three-year supply agreement for Corning optical fiber, including Corning(R) SMF-28(TM) fiber and Corning(R) 50/125 and 62.5/125 multimode fibers.

Saranskkabel Optika has been a Corning optical fiber customer since 1998 and the agreement provides Saranskkabel Optika with at least 70 percent of their total fiber supply.

"Saranskkabel Optika is pleased to be working with Corning, the world's leading supplier of quality optical fiber," says Michael Boximer, general director of Saranskkabel Optika. "Because of our strong relationship with Corning and this supply agreement, Saranskkabel Optika can meet the fiber demands of existing and new telecommunications customers throughout Russia."

As part of the long-term supply agreement, Saranskkabel will purchase Corning SMF-28 fiber, the world's best-selling and leading standard fiber, widely deployed in telephony, cable television and utility network applications. SMF-28 fiber's versatile optical profile and outstanding geometry offer high performance in 1310 and 1550 nm applications and excellent splicing and handling capability. Corning's 50/125 and 62.5/125 fibers, also purchased as part of the agreement, are traditional graded-index multimode fibers used primarily in local area networks.

"Corning continues to see strong international demand for our optical fiber, indicative of the bandwidth constraint continuing to be felt in international markets," says Derrick Wells, managing director, Corning Optical Fiber - Europe. "Our relationship with Saranskkabel Optika helps to ensure that Corning will continue its leadership role in Russian telecommunications, and that Saranskkabel's customers will receive the highest-quality optical fiber for their network needs."

Created in March 2000, Saranskkabel Optika is a spin-off company of Joint Stock Company Saranskkabel. Today Saranskkabel Optika provides single-mode and multimode optical fiber cable to leading Russian networks. Newly installed NEXTROM equipment provided by Nokia-Maileffer, high-quality materials from leading manufacturers worldwide and precise technology and quality control systems enable Saranskkabel to produce high-quality optical cable for virtually any network installation.

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 2000 were $7.1 billion.