CommScope debuts HeliARC fiber for rural builds, invests $47 million in production

CommScope unveiled a new fiber cable it claimed will drive down installation costs for rural broadband builds, supporting the product's launch with enough production capacity to cover at least half a million homes per year. CEO Chuck Treadway said CommScope plans to invest another $47 million to expand its fiber capacity even further. CommScope’s new HeliARC fiber is “smaller and lighter” than traditional fiber cable. This, he said, not only allows for more cable to be included in each shipment – thus reducing shipping costs and environmental impacts – but will also enable faster installation.  Treadway said CommScope has already brought enough HeliARC production capacity online at its two facilities in North Carolina to enable the product to cover 500,000 passings per year.