Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) this month unveiled its newest connectivity platform, the EDGE Distribution System. Designed to meet burgeoning demand for information processing in the cloud, the company contends the new pre-engineered data center optical communications platform shortens installation time for server cabling by up to 70%, helps address shortages in skilled labor, and provides up to a 55% reduction in carbon footprint by minimizing materials and packaging.
The manufacturer notes that today’s data centers are expanding to store and process increasing flows of information, especially as machine learning and artificial intelligence become integral to more industries. In response to this demand, the EDGE Distribution System builds on Corning’s decades of experience developing pre-engineered platforms for the optical communications industry. The company says the system simplifies the deployment of cabling within data centers, all the way to the server racks.
Michael O’Day, vice president and chief technology officer, Corning Optical Communications, remarked:
“This is a critical moment for cloud data centers. They need to quickly ramp up capacity in a time of labor constraints. Corning designed the EDGE Distribution System to meet those needs, providing a new path to capacity, speed, and sustainability."
Corning reports that initial deployments at hyperscale data centers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia have shown that the EDGE Distribution System can lower total installed cost by up to 20%.
The company says the EDGE Distribution System allows operators to add capacity more quickly, consolidating dozens of patch cords into a single assembly. This can accelerate the installation process by 70%, while making it safer and reducing reliance on skilled labor. By adding capacity more quickly, operators can also lower total installed cost and shorten the path to revenue recognition.
For greater sustainability, Corning also notes with that the EDGE Distribution System, operators can redesign their physical networks, from the leaf switches to the top-of-rack switches, minimizing the use of metal and plastic and reducing the carbon footprint of the optical links. In addition, the company notes that consolidating all the patch cords into one assembly minimizes the use of cable trays and product packaging. Together, Corning says the new system's consolidation of cable and minimizing of materials and packaging can provide up to a 55% reduction in carbon footprint, compared to legacy solutions.
Finally, the company notes that operators can use Corning’s virtual configuration tools and expert, regionally based technical support to customize the system to their desired fiber counts, number of access points, and connector type.
Corning experts showcased the EDGE Distribution System, along with the company's other fiber, cable, and hardware products, at the 2023 Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exposition (OFC) from March 7-9 in San Diego.
Corning's O’Day concluded:
“The EDGE Distribution System represents why Corning is vital to progress. Customers bring us their toughest technology challenges, and we combine our core technologies with our manufacturing and engineering platforms to create solutions that move entire industries forward."
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