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    Corning Ties Wireless Network to Fiber Backbones

    Pulling copper cable has never been a popular activity within IT circles, especially when the IT environment itself is subject to regular amounts of change. Now that fiber optic networking systems are becoming more affordable, however, the days of pulling copper cable may be coming to a close.

    Corning, a pioneer in fiber optic cabling, is expanding its foray into traditional IT networking with the recent launch of the Corning ONE Wireless Platform, which unifies cellular and 802.11 network traffic via common fiber optic hub.

    According to Jason Greene, global program manager for wireless at Corning, one of the more attractive attributes of fiber optic is that it future proofs networks. Instead of having to upgrade cables and switches, IT organizations only need to upgrade the wireless antenna modules to accommodate new technologies.

    Based mainly on technology Corning gained with the acquisition of MobileAccess in 2011, Greene says that fiber optic systems are not only easier to deploy, they support Gigabit Ethernet and Power over Ethernet while taking up three-fourths less space than traditional switches.

    No matter the venue, wireless networks are rapidly becoming the primary vehicle through which end users are accessing an ever increasing number of bandwidth-hungry applications. The challenge facing IT organizations going forward is figuring out how to accommodate those needs in a way that doesn’t require a massive upgrade to the network every two to four years.

    Mike Vizard
    Mike Vizard
    Michael Vizard is a seasoned IT journalist, with nearly 30 years of experience writing and editing about enterprise IT issues. He is a contributor to publications including Programmableweb, IT Business Edge, CIOinsight and UBM Tech. He formerly was editorial director for Ziff-Davis Enterprise, where he launched the company’s custom content division, and has also served as editor in chief for CRN and InfoWorld. He also has held editorial positions at PC Week, Computerworld and Digital Review.

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