Corning Cable Systems announces commencement of ribbon cable production at Clayton facility
The localisation of this product line highlights Corning’s continued commitment to further expand its Australian-based manufacturing and assembly capacity to meet the needs of the National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout.
The production officially commenced during a visit today with Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy; and Federal Member for Hotham and Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development, and Local Government Simon Crean.
Global Carrier Networks and Customer Experience, Corning Cable Systems senior vice president Kimberly Hartwell says, “The adoption of ribbon fibre cable technology is a key enabler of the NBN FTTH network architecture. Its compact nature allows the maximum number of fibres to be pulled through a duct or pipe while also ensuring the quickest installation times. Corning Cable Systems’ Altos Loose Tube Ribbon Cable should help ensure network reliability, deployment speed, and cost advantages for NBN.
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“By investing in the National Broadband Network, the Gillard Government is securing Australia’s economy for the future. This includes creating 21st century manufacturing jobs like the up to three hundred to four hundred here at Corning, as well as ensuring all Australians are able to share in the benefits of fast affordable broadband,” Senator Conroy says.
“This investment in Clayton will provide a great economic and jobs boost for the local and Victorian economies. The people of Hotham can be proud that the fibre cable made here will be shipped right across Australia, helping build the NBN and allowing regional and rural Australia to access the same broadband services at the same price as the rest of the country for the first time,” Simon says.
The localisation of Corning’s ribbon cable production is an important next step for Corning Cable Systems Australia. As a primary NBN Co supplier of optical fibre cable and hardware for the National Broadband Network, Corning plans to invest up to $40 million in its Clayton operations, related equipment, and personnel training, all of which are keeping pace with NBN’s expected rate of deployment.
NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley says, “NBN Co is pleased to be working with companies that are increasing their investment in local manufacturing and local jobs. A benefit of Australia investing in upgrading our communications infrastructure is the creation of local jobs and local industry investment, and we congratulate Corning on the launch of its local manufacturing line. The new ribbon fibre cable being manufactured in this upgraded facility helps make the NBN rollout more efficient and cost effective by streamlining fibre splicing in the field.”
Corning Cable Systems Australia managing director Rainer Dittrich says, “Corning Cable Systems’ support for the NBN has required the transfer of our ribbon cable manufacturing technology and should continue to require further expansions in capacity and employment numbers.
“Our recent addition of two buildings gives us approximately four times our original footprint and twice the production space – as well as a significant national distribution centre. This is indicative of our commitment to both the NBN and the local community in which we operate. The coming months expect to see the opening of an additional production facility and an increase in capacity at our Clayton operations for two of Corning’s hardware products key to fibre- to- the- home installation: the FlexNAP RPX Cable Terminal Distribution System and the Fibre Distribution Hub (FDH).”
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