Corning says flexible optical fibre will speed up net for many

GLASS FIRM Corning said it is set to introduce an optical fibre set of products that is so flexible it will bend round the tightest corners without loss of signal.

That means, it said, telecomms carriers can offer high speed internet, voice and HD TV services virtually anywhere - but especially for flats and offices in other big buildings.

The family of products, which it calls "Nano Structures" is 100 times more bendy than standard fibre and as rugged as copper, said Peter Volanakis, president of Corning. There are something like 680 million flats (apartments) worldwide and high cost of installation turned most telecomms providers off.

The kit will be shown off in September at the Fiber-to-the-Home conference in Florida. µ