AT&T, NEC and Corning Researchers Complete Record-Breaking Bandwidth Capacity Test

Researchers Successfully Transmit Data at 17 Terabits per Second Over 622 Kilometers on a Single Optical Fiber, Setting New Record

Middletown, New Jersey, Princeton, New Jersey, Corning, New York, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), NEC Corporation of America (NEC) and Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) today announced completion of a record-setting bandwidth capacity test, a key advance in industry efforts to develop new-generation backbone network technologies that support continually rising demand for Internet and IP applications.

The successful test incorporated emerging 100 Gbps technologies to transmit data at 114 Gigabits per second over each of 161 separate optical channels on a single, 622-kilometer optically amplified link, resulting in a total bandwidth capacity of 17 Terabits per second. The laboratory link was composed of eight spans, each containing a single-stage, C-band Erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) and a section of Corning® SMF-28® ULL fiber, an ITU G.652 compliant ultra-low-loss optical fiber. This result sets a new record for bandwidth capacity delivered over a single optical wavelength band, surpassing a previous milestone of 12.3 Tbps over 240 kilometers that was documented last year.

The milestone, presented recently at the European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC) in Brussels, Belgium, advances development of 100 Gbps technologies, which are expected to be finalized and ready for deployment within the next few years to boost capacity in carrier backbone networks.

“NEC has a long history in achieving the most advanced results in research and development in the optical networking area globally,” said Milorad Cvijetic, vice president and chief technology strategist, Optical Network Systems Division, NEC Corporation of America. “This achievement demonstrates our capability to introduce novel concepts in optical networking and work alongside some of the leading experts in the industry. NEC has been quite focused on the introduction of 100 Gbps technology and these type of results validate our long-term strategy to service the carrier marketplace with viable higher-bandwidth solutions.”

“To meet our customers’ needs, AT&T is focused on delivering the most advanced technologies available today, while continually leading the industry in researching and developing tomorrow’s technology platforms,” said Peter Magill, executive director of optical systems research, AT&T Labs. “As we continue to drive development and push the boundaries of new generations of technology, we are ideally positioned to quickly and efficiently implement them as our customer needs dictate.”

“Corning recognizes the need to invest in new and innovative optical fiber technologies that will enable carriers to cost effectively meet ever-growing traffic demands,” said Barry Linchuck, director of marketing, Corning Optical Fiber, Corning Incorporated. “Optical fiber is a foundation of all major telecommunications networks, and Corning is driving advances in ultra low-loss, high-performance fibers to enable network operators to achieve higher capacities per fiber at the operating distances they need.”

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world’s most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation’s leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. In 2008, AT&T again ranked No. 1 on Fortune magazine’s World’s Most Admired Telecommunications Company list and No. 1 on America’s Most Admired Telecommunications Company list. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.

© 2008 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.

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About NEC Corporation of America
NEC Corporation of America is a leading technology provider of network, IT and identity management solutions. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, NEC Corporation of America is the North America subsidiary of NEC Corporation, and delivers technology and professional services ranging from server and storage solutions, IP voice and data solutions, optical network and microwave radio communications to biometric security, virtualization and digital cinema solutions. NEC Corporation of America serves carrier and both SMB and large enterprise clients across multiple vertical industries. For more information, please visit www.necam.com.

NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Other product or service marks mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. © 2008 NEC Corporation of America.

About Corning Incorporated
Corning Incorporated (www.corning.com) is the world leader in specialty glass and ceramics. Drawing on more than 150 years of materials science and process engineering knowledge, Corning creates and makes keystone components that enable high-technology systems for consumer electronics, mobile emissions control, telecommunications and life sciences. Our products include glass substrates for LCD televisions, computer monitors and laptops; ceramic substrates and filters for mobile emission control systems; optical fiber, cable, hardware & equipment for telecommunications networks; optical biosensors for drug discovery; and other advanced optics and specialty glass solutions for a number of industries including semiconductor, aerospace, defense, astronomy and metrology.