Optical Fiber

& OF Cables
Classifications
 Types of Optical Fiber

 Plastic core and cladding

 Glass core with plastic cladding (PCS)

 Glass core and glass cladding (SCS)

2
 Modes of Propagation
 Single mode – there is only one path for
light to take down the cable
Cladding

 Multimode – if there is more than one path

Cladding

3
 Index Profiles
 Step-index fiber – it has a central core with a
uniform refractive index. The core is
surrounded by an outside cladding with a
uniform refractive index less than that of the
central core

 Grade-index fiber – has no cladding, and the

refractive index of the core is nonuniform; it
is highest at the center and decreases
gradually toward the outer edge 4
 Optical Fiber Configuration
1. Single-Mode Step-Index Fiber – has a central
core that is sufficiently small so that there is
essentially one path that light takes as it
propagates down the cable
2. Multimode Step-Index Fiber – similar to the
single-mode configuration except that the core is
much larger. This type of fiber has a large light-
to-fiber aperture, and consequently, allows more
light to enter the cable.
3. Multimode Graded-Index – it is characterized by
a central core that has a refractive index that is
non-uniform. Light is propagated down this type
of fiber through refraction. 5
 Single-Mode Step-Index Fiber
Advantages:
 There is minimum dispersion. Because all rays
propagating down the fiber take approximately the same
path, they take approximately the same amount of time to
travel down the cable.
 Because of the high accuracy in reproducing transmitted
pulses at the receive end, larger bandwidths and higher
information transmission rates are possible with single-
mode step-index fibers than with other types of fiber.

Disadvantages:
 Because the central core is very small, it is difficult to
couple light into and out of this type of fiber. The source-
to-fiber aperture is the smallest of all the fiber types.
 A highly directive light source such as laser is required.
It is expensive and difficult to manufacture. 6
 Multimode Step-Index Fiber
Advantages:
 Inexpensive and easy to manufacture.
 It is easy to couple light into and out; they have a relatively
high large source-to-fiber aperture.

Disadvantages:
 Light rays take many different paths down the fiber, which
results in large differences in their propagation times.
Because of this, rays traveling down this type of fiber have
a tendency to spread out.
 The bandwidth and rate of information transfer possible
with this type of cable are less than the other types. 7
SPECIFICATIONS OF OPTICAL FIBERS…
SINGLE MODE OF MULTI MODE OF
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD FOR OPTICAL FIBRE

ITU-T G.651
Multimode fiber standard

ITU T G.652
ITU-G.Standard Singlemode fiber. 4 different categories
(A, B, C, D) differ in the water peak attenuation around
the 1383nm window

ITU-T G.653
Zero Dispersion Shifted Fiber (ZDSF), having zero
dispersion around the 1550nm window
ITU-T G.654
Cutoff shifted and low attenuation fiber, designed mainly for
submarine applications
ITU-T G.655
Non-zero Dispersion Shifted Fiber (NZDSF), having low
dispersion in the 1550nm and
1625nm windows, the DWDM region. Suited for longhaul and
backbone applications.
Categories A, B, C, D, E differ in PMD and dispersion values
ITU-T G.656
Medium Dispersion Fiber (MDF), designed for local access
and longhaul fiber
ITU-T G.657
Latest standard (from 2008 Jan) for FTTH application.
Designed to bend at small radius of
down to 10mm radius and 7.5mm radius
 VARIOUS TYPES OF OPTICAL
FIBER CABLES
1. OPGW Cable

2. ADSS type OF Cable

3. Self-Support AERIAL figure 8 type OF Cable

4. LASHED type OF Cable

5. UNDERGROUND / BURRIED type Cables

6. DUCT Type OF Cable

An optical ground wire (also known as an OPGW or,,
an optical fiber composite overhead ground wire) is
a type of cable that is used in the construction of electric
power transmission and distribution lines. Such cable
combines the functions of grounding and communication

An OPGW cable contains a tubular structure with one or

more optical fibers in it, surrounded by layers
of steel and aluminum wire. The OPGW cable is run
between the tops of high-voltage electricity pylons.
The conductive part of the cable serves to bond adjacent
towers to earth ground, and shields the high-
voltage conductors from lightning strikes. The optical
fibers within the cable can be used for high-speed
transmission of data
OPGW CABLES
All-dielectric self-supporting (ADSS) cable is a type
of opticaI fiber cable that contains no conductive metal
elements. It is used by electrical utility companies as a
communications medium, installed along existing
overhead transmission lines and often sharing the
same support structures as the electrical conductors.

ADSS is an alternative to OPGW with lower

installation cost. The cables are designed to be strong
enough to allow lengths of up to 700 metres to be
installed between support towers. ADSS cable is
designed to be light weight and small in diameter to
reduce the load on tower structures due to cable
weight, wind, and ice
ADSS type OF CABLES
AERIAL Figure 8 type OF Cable
Specifications of AERIAL Figure 8 type OF
Cables
LASHED type OF Cable
OVERHEAD FIBRE OPTIC CABLE INSTALLATION

OPGW

WRAP AROUND

ADSS
UNDERGROUND / BURRIED type OF Cables
Specifications of UNDERGROUND / BURRIED
type OF Cables
DUCT Type OF Cable
Specifications of DUCT Type OF Cable
SOME MANUFACTURERS OF OPTICAL
CABLES

 Furukawa
 Fujikura
 LG Cables
 Corning
 Philips-Fitel
 Pirelli
 TTL
 Sterlite Cables
 Teracom
 Aksh
Thank You