British Telecommunications Plc has taken a 7% stake in Acton, Massachusetts start-up Iris Fiber Optics Inc, in partnership with Galileo Electro-Optics Corp, which holds 16.6%. The balance of the shares are held by an unidentified venture capital firm and the management of the new company. Iris has been formed to exploit British Telecom technology in glass fibre capable of transmitting infrared light efficiently. It will have access to a supply of fibre from British Telecom, and to its patents and proprietary infrared glassmaking technology.
