Fiber Optic Cables
Duct, armoured, aerial, micro and indoor cables, in the fiber types and counts your design specifies.
In short
How do you choose the right fiber optic cable?
Fiber optic cable is chosen by where it will be installed and how many fibers it must carry. Outside plant networks mostly use single-mode G.652.D fiber in duct, armoured, aerial or micro-cable constructions, while drops and indoor runs often use bend-insensitive G.657 fiber. City Networks supplies each type in the fiber count the design specifies.
Where it’s used
- Backbone and feeder routes in duct
- Direct-buried routes that need armour
- Aerial routes on poles
- Micro-cable blown into microducts
- Drop cables to homes and units
- Indoor risers and horizontal runs
Buying advice
How to choose fiber cable.
- 01
Start from the installation method
Cable blown into microduct, pulled through duct or buried directly needs a different construction. Fix the method in the design, then choose the cable.
- 02
Use bend-insensitive fiber where cables turn tightly
G.657 fiber tolerates much tighter bends than G.652.D with little extra loss. It is the usual choice for drops, risers and indoor runs.
- 03
Use LSZH inside buildings
Low-smoke zero-halogen sheaths give off less smoke and no corrosive halogen gas in a fire, and building fire codes normally require them indoors.
What is the difference between single-mode and multimode fiber?
Single-mode fiber has a small core, about 9 microns, that carries a single path of light, so it works over long distances with low loss. It is used for telecom and FTTH. Multimode fiber has a larger core (50 microns for OM3 and OM4) and is used for short links inside buildings and data centres.
What is G.652.D fiber?
G.652.D is the ITU-T standard for conventional single-mode fiber with low water-peak loss. It is the most widely used fiber in telecom backbone, feeder and distribution cables.
What is ADSS cable?
All-dielectric self-supporting cable. It contains no metal and carries its own weight between poles, so it can be hung on utility poles without a separate messenger wire.
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