MINNEAPOLIS - ADC (Eden Prairie, MN) and Corning Cable Systems (HICKORY, NC) agreed upon a technology transfer agreement for one of Corning Cable Systems’ industry-leading hardened connector products. The agreement allows the two companies to leverage the attributes of Corning Cable Systems’ OptiTap connector and provides customers with a reliable and cost-effective connectivity solution for their FTTX networks.
The Corning Cable Systems OptiTap connector and adapter are factory-terminated, environmentally sealed and hardened connectors for use in drop cable deployments in optical access networks. “This innovative product significantly reduces the terminal and drop cable installation time for subscriber connection, thereby reducing total installed cost of deployment,” said Stuart Hoiness, vice president of hardware and equipment product line management for Corning Cable Systems. “In combination with our OptiFit Advantage drop cable assembly and our OptiSheath Advantage terminals, the product also provides superior durability and reliability in the drop segment of the network.”
The turn-key transfer grants ADC full manufacturing rights, including tooling drawings, dimensions, tolerances, assembly processes, material selections, and insider’s guidance from Corning. The agreement gives ADC the edge into products that are fully intermateabile and interoperable with Corning’s already deployed product.
Prior to manufacturing the product, ADC elected to pursue a formal technology transfer agreement to ensure full compatibility between the two companies’ products. “ADC understood the benefits of Corning’s innovation early on, but believed strongly that its full potential would only be realized if they were able to work directly with Corning,” said Greg Wiehle, vice president of engineering of the Global Connectivity Solutions Business Unit for ADC. The agreement allows ADC to interact in real-time with Corning’s engineering and operations teams, facilitating first-hand direction regarding intermateability.
“This powerful agreement between ADC and Corning is significant to any customer who is looking for cost-effective solutions that can withstand the rugged outside plant environment,” said Pat O’Brien, president of the Global Connectivity Solutions Business Unit for ADC. “They can be assured that any products from our two companies that utilize this technology will be fully interoperable, of the best quality, and available in the shortest time possible.”
An additional goal of this agreement is to use the combined strength of these two industry leaders to drive these solution sets as the hardened connector option of choice for the FTTX environment. “The entire industry wins when the industry standardizes on a superior technology,” said Dr. Bernhard Deutsch, director of Market Development for Corning Cable Systems.
The OptiTap consists of an environmentally sealed adapter and a connector, quick-to-deploy connections between the access terminal and the optical network terminal (ONT). Access terminals, either buried or aerial, typically contain from four to twelve Optitap adapters. The adapter receives the drop cable, and the drop cable connects the access terminal to the ONT.
The ADC version of the Optitap will be available in volume early this summer; Telcordia testing is expected to begin mid-spring.
