Corning’s Ultra-Low-Loss Optical Fiber Chosen for du’s High-Capacity, Pan-Emirates Network

CORNING, N.Y. – Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) announced today that du, the United Arab Emirates’s (UAE) new integrated telecommunications service provider, will deploy Corning® SMF-28® ULL optical fiber as the foundation of its Pan-Emirates, high-capacity network. du is the first telecom operator in the Middle East to deploy this sophisticated fiber. This new network will support du’s fast growing business, 3G cellular and fiber-to-the-home customers, with seamless, high-speed connectivity. It will span the seven Emirates and link du’s network with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

SMF-28 ULL fiber can deliver the bandwidth required today and also offer the ability to upgrade to even higher data rates, such as 100 gigabits per second (Gb/s) per channel and more, as customers demand new services. The construction of the network began in August and is expected to be completed by 2010. The cable will be provided by Corning Cable Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Corning Incorporated.

Highlighting the benefits of choosing Corning, Osman Sultan, chief executive officer, du, said, “Innovation is at the heart of what we do and our mission is to build a high-capacity fiber cable that can generate terabits of traffic for du customers, and this will be state of the art for long-haul network applications. Using Corning’s SMF-28 ULL fiber as the foundation of our network, we will be able to deliver seamless, high-data capacity over longer distances for customers with a superior level of security, reliability and upgradeability that sets a new standard for the region.”

“Long-haul, high-capacity networks like the Pan-Emirates network du is building require the ability to construct long spans while also supporting very high data rates,” said Martin J. Curran, senior vice president and general manager, Corning Optical Fiber. “Corning’s SMF-28 ULL fiber provides that unique solution. We are proud to be working with du as they deploy this innovative and advanced telecommunications network.”

Corning SMF-28 ULL optical fiber is the lowest attenuation ITU recommendation G.652-compliant fiber available in the world. Maintaining higher signal strength extends reach and provides opportunities to reduce capital, operating expenses and system complexity. In addition to enabling future network upgrades to 100 Gb/s and more per single user, SMF-28 ULL fiber maintains compatibility with the installed base of single-mode fibers.

About du
du, an integrated telecom service provider in the UAE, launched mobile telecommunications services on February 11, 2007 across the UAE. They also offer internet and pay TV services in some of the free zones of Dubai. Call Select, the first of du’s nationwide fixed-line services for voice telephony, was launched in July 2007.

Among du’s many firsts is its historic Number Booking Campaign for both individuals and businesses; Pay by the Second billing system; Mobile TV; Mobile Payments; first of its kind ‘WoW’ recharge card that offers customers the choice between more credit and more time; and Self Care. Specific du business offerings include Closed Business User Groups and Preferred International Destinations.

du’s retail network, which launched on February 25, 2007, currently includes 16 shops located in strategic locations across all emirates that support the delivery of du services to customers.

du is 40 percent owned by the UAE Federal Government, 20 percent by Mubadala Development Company, 20 percent by Emirates Communications & Technology Company LLC and 20 percent by public shareholders. It is listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and trades under the name du.

du was recognized as the ‘Best Brand’ for its innovative branding and outstanding success at the Telecom World Awards Middle East 2007.