They are long strands of very pure glass as thin as human hair. Arranged in bundles, they carry digital information over long distances. First developed in the 1970s, fiber optic communication systems have revolutionized the communication industry. The Berlin-based Corning Optical Communications GmbH & Co. KG, a subsidiary of Corning Incorporated, is not only a leading manufacturer of fiber optic communication system solutions; the company has deeply influenced their dynamic development.