CHARLTON, Mass., June 1 -- FiberCore Inc., a manufacturer and supplier of optical fiber and preform for the telecommunication and data communications markets, has received contracts from several North American customers valued at a minimum of $55 million. Approximately 70 percent of these contracts are under "take or pay" arrangements and have been added to backlog, which at March 31, 2001, was a record $260 million. The contracts are for FiberCore's single-mode and multimode fiber, including high performance GigaGrade fiber for use in Premises, LAN and MAN applications. Shipments are slated from 2001 through 2004. In addition, the contracts contain provisions to supply additional product valued at between $30 million and $100 million, contingent upon the successful completion of pending customer projects.