Flexible Optic Fiber Promises Cheaper Last Mile

bn0p writes "Ars Technica has an article on a Korean company that has developed a low-cost, flexible, plastic optical fiber that could bring cheaper 2.5 Gbps connections to homes and apartments. While not as fast as glass fiber, it is significantly faster than copper. In related news, Corning recently announced a flexible glass fiber that can be bent repeatedly without losing signal strength. The Corning fiber incorporates nanostructures in the cladding of the fiber that act as 'light guardrails' to keep the light in the fiber. The glass fiber could be as much as four times faster than plastic fiber. Neither fiber is available commercially yet, but both should help with the last mile problem when they are deployed."

Two decades too late

[BadAnalogyGuy]

Flexible fiber optic may be a great solution for our broadband needs, but their true calling [mooncostumes.com] is now twenty years passed.

Re:Cabling expense

[BadAnalogyGuy]

Physical cabling, of any sort, is cheap if you're already digging trenches etc.

This explains why Europe is so far ahead of the U.S. in terms of broadband penetration.

Re:Last mile = Apartment Buildings

[calebt3]

This could be a good incentive for a us to finally get out of our parent's basements and into apartments of our own.

cheaper 2.5 Gbps connections

[seanadams.com]

cheaper than the one I have now? sweet!

Wow!

[SailorSpork]

You mean I can get internet porn even faster with these plastic rope thingys? Sign me up!