Optical fiber producer lights the way ahead

SHANGHAI - Zhongtian Technology Co Ltd, one of China's leading producers of optical fibers, has become the country's first to successfully develop optical fiber preform (OFP), a material used in the production of optical fibers, by using its own technology.

The company has applied for patents for nine inventions, two of which have been approved so far, said General Manager Shen Yichun on Thursday.

The project, which had 1.18 billion yuan ($178 million) in investment, will be put in production in batches this year with the world's most advanced OFP technology, Shen said. "Thus, we can use our own products instead of imports."