ROANOKE, Virginia, September 12 /PRNewswire/ --

- Ground Tactical Fiber Optic Cable Subjected to Rigorous Testing

Optical Cable Corporation(Nasdaq: OCCF) today announced that its ground
tactical fiber optic cable has been fully qualified by the United Kingdom
Ministry of Defence ("MoD") -- a significant milestone in Optical Cable
Corporation's continuing pursuit of excellence as a long-time supplier of
rugged military fiber optic cable for the U.S., U.K. and other allied
militaries.

The announcement came during Optical Cable Corporation's exhibition at
the Defence Systems and Equipment International ("DSEi") defense tradeshow in
London.

Ground Tactical Fiber Optic Cable Qualified to U.K. MoD Def-Stan 60-1,
Part 3

Optical Cable Corporation's ground tactical fiber optic cable has been
fully qualified to meet all U.K. MoD military requirements. A government
certified independent test laboratory subjected Optical Cable's military
ground tactical fiber optic cable to a series of rigorous optical,
environmental and mechanical tests as defined in Def-Stan 60-1, Part 3. The
test results were reviewed by QinetiQ Batteries, Cables and Connectors at
Sevenoaks, Kent, U.K.

QinetiQ validated that the Company's submitted military ground tactical
fiber optic cable design complied with the U.K. MoD's stringent test
requirements. As a result, the U.K. MoD has named Optical Cable Corporation
as a qualified supplier of Def-Stan 60-1, Part 3 ground tactical fiber optic
cable.

Company's Fiber Optic Cable Already Qualified by U.S. Department of
Defense

Optical Cable Corporation's new U.K. MoD qualification is in addition to
a previously earned qualification by the U.S. Department of Defense. Optical
Cable Corporation announced its ground tactical fiber optic cable was
qualified to the U.S. Department of Defense's MIL-PRF-85045/8A standard for
ground tactical fiber optic cable in August 2005-and Optical Cable
Corporation is still the only fiber optic cable manufacturer fully qualified
to this U.S. military standard.

The Company's manufacturing facility is also certified by the U.S.
Department of Defense as a MIL-STD-790F facility. This facility certification
is considered one of the most respected in the defense industry as it
requires compliance with stringent government requirements for product
design, documentation, process control, and management practices.

Management Comments

"Military ground tactical fiber optic cables are an essential part of
military tactical communications systems, and those fiber optic cables need
to survive some of the harshest of environments around," said Barney Dean,
Optical Cable's Director of Military and Government Sales. "Our
military-grade fiber optic cables are well known for their outstanding
performance by U.S. and allied militaries, and our new Def Stan qualification
offers the U.K. military access to a superior and fully qualified ground
tactical fiber optic cable for their communications needs," said Mr. Dean.

"Optical Cable Corporation is a long-time supplier of military ground
tactical fiber optic cable to the U.S. Department of Defense and certain
allied militaries," said Neil Wilkin, President and Chief Executive Officer
of Optical Cable Corporation. "Our announcement today further supports our
belief that Optical Cable continues to be the premier source for the highest
quality, most rugged and most reliable military ground tactical fiber optic
cable available," said Mr. Wilkin.

Company Information

Optical Cable Corporation is a leading manufacturer of fiber optic cables
primarily sold into the enterprise market, and the premier manufacturer of
military ground tactical fiber optic cable for the U.S. military. Founded in
1983, Optical Cable Corporation pioneered the design and production of fiber
optic cables for the most demanding military field applications, as well as
fiber optic cables suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The Company's
current broad product offering is built on the evolution of these fundamental
technologies, and is designed to provide end-users with fiber optic cables
that are easy and economical to install, provide a high degree of reliability
and offer outstanding performance characteristics. Optical Cable Corporation
sells its products worldwide for uses ranging from commercial and campus
installations to customized products for specialty applications and harsh
environments, including military applications. The Company manufactures its
high quality fiber optic cables at its ISO 9001:2000 registered and
MIL-STD-790F certified facility located in Roanoke, Virginia.

Further information about Optical Cable Corporation is available on the
World Wide Web at www.occfiber.com.

About DSEi (Defence Systems & Equipment International)

DSEi is the UK's showcase for new and future defense technology and is
the largest exhibition for the world's defense companies to display their
land, sea and air capabilities at a single exhibition. DSEi provides an
excellent opportunity for members of the media to gather the most up-to-date
news and information on the global defense and aerospace industries.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release by Optical Cable Corporation (the "Company") may
contain certain "forward-looking" information within the meaning of the
federal securities laws. The forward-looking information may include, among
other information, (i) statements concerning the Company's outlook for the
future, (ii) statements of belief, anticipation or expectation, (iii) future
plans, strategies or anticipated events, and (iv) similar information and
statements concerning matters that are not historical facts. Such
forward-looking information is subject to risks and uncertainties that may
cause actual events to differ materially from the Company's expectations.
Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are
not limited to, the level of sales to key customers, including distributors;
timing of certain projects and purchases by key customers; the economic
conditions affecting network service providers; corporate and/or government
spending on information technology; actions by competitors; fluctuations in
the price of raw materials (including optical fiber); the Company's
dependence on a single manufacturing facility; the Company's ability to
protect its proprietary manufacturing technology; market conditions
influencing prices or pricing; the Company's dependence on a limited number
of suppliers; an adverse outcome in litigation, claims and other actions, and
potential litigation, claims and other actions against the Company; an
adverse outcome in regulatory reviews and audits and potential regulatory
reviews and audits; adverse changes in state tax laws and/or positions taken
by state taxing authorities affecting the Company; technological changes and
introductions of new competing products; changes in end-user preferences of
competing technologies, including copper cable and wireless, relative to
fiber optic cable; economic conditions that affect the telecommunications
sector, certain technology sectors or the economy as a whole; terrorist
attacks or acts of war, and any current or potential future military
conflicts; changes in the level of military spending by the United States
government; ability to retain key personnel; the impact of changes in
accounting policies, including those by the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; the Company's
ability to successfully comply with, and the cost of compliance with, the
provisions of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or any revisions
to that act which apply to the Company; impact of future consolidation among
competitors and/or among customers adversely affecting the Company's position
with its customers and/or our market position; actions by customers adversely
affecting the Company in reaction to the expansion of the Company's product
offering in any manner, including, but not limited to, by offering products
that compete with its customers, and/or by entering into alliances with,
and/or making investments in or with, parties that compete with and/or have
conflicts with customers of the Company; adverse reactions by customers,
vendors or other service providers to unsolicited proposals regarding the
acquisition of the Company by another company; the additional costs of
considering and possibly defending the Company's position on such unsolicited
proposals regarding the acquisition of us by another company; impact of
weather or natural disasters in the areas of the world in which the Company
operates and markets its products; changes in market demand, exchange rates,
productivity, or market and economic conditions in the areas of the world in
which the Company operates and markets its products and the Company's success
in managing the risks involved in the foregoing. The Company cautions readers
that the foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive and the Company
incorporates by reference those factors included in current reports on Form
8-K.

AT THE COMPANY:
    Neil Wilkin                          Richard Hutchinson
    President & CEO                      European Sales Manager
    +1-540-265-0690                      +44-7766-718408
    investorrelations@occfiber.com       rhutchinson@occfiber.com
    
    Barney Dean
    Director of Sales - Military and
     Government
    +1-540-265-0690 
    bdean@occfiber.com

    AT JOELE FRANK, WILKINSON BRIMMER KATCHER:
    Andrew Siegel                         Ryan May
    +1-212-355-4449 ext. 127              +1-212-355-4449 ext. 132
    asiegel@joelefrank.com                rmay@joelefrank.com



Web site: http://www.occfiber.com