From hyperscalers to FTTH, compact, dense and flexible fiber is needed to meet exponential demand
Roshene McCool
Published: September 26, 2024
With a growing demand for faster, more efficient networks, fiber optic cables need to evolve. Smaller, lighter cables that can still handle vast amounts of data are essential to meet growing demands for increased network capacity and connectivity — and these demands are only expected to grow in the future.
As 5G networks expand and IoT ecosystems explode, people and businesses want more bandwidth. Complicating the matter further is that available space for fiber installation is often at a premium, and permitting processes can be burdensome, meaning installers are always looking for ways to reduce complexity. The name of the game is density – when installers can put more, higher capacity fiber into tighter spaces, it helps meet current demands for bandwidth while providing capacity for future growth, all while reducing the need to dig up conduits for expansions down the line.
The moment calls for a fiber innovation that can meet rapidly rising demand for flexibility, performance and reliability. That fiber is Corning® SMF-28® Contour optical fiber.
Fiber without compromise
SMF-28® Contour Optical Fiber offers a unique combination of attributes that, together, are changing the game for the industry. It’s the next generation of fiber, and by combining a low outer diameter (OD) of 190 µm with improved bend resilience, this high-performance fiber enables smaller, lighter, more sustainable optical solutions, like the MiniXtend® cables with Flow Ribbon Technology.
SMF-28 Contour fiber stands out with its unique, all-inclusive capabilities. It’s a one-fiber-fits-all solution that doesn’t compromise on specs. With other fibers, there has typically been a trade off. For example, either the fiber is made for low attenuation but doesn’t bend well, or vice-versa.
SMF-28 Contour fiber delivers low OD, wide spectrum performance, and low attenuation that, together, enable higher bandwidth and bend-protected reach, creating stronger networks and allowing SMF-28 Contour fiber-enabled solutions to be deployed in a wide variety of use cases.
Fibers with lower OD and strong bend resilience enable users to fit a lot of fiber in a small space while minimizing signal loss. Because that signal loss tends to get exacerbated, the higher one goes in wavelength spectrum -- and those higher wavelengths like C-band and L-band are so critical to cutting-edge technology – it makes SMF-28 Contour fiber-based products much more resilient and reliable in transmission.
SMF-28 Contour fiber offers a 40% reduction in cross-sectional area and is 54% lighter than standard fibers. That density is key when it comes to connecting communities, giving businesses more capacity, and more. SMF-28 Contour fiber delivers on all the features needed to increase network efficiency for today and tomorrow.
Installing more fiber in existing ducts
SMF-28 Contour cables can be packed more densely in smaller areas, which enables installation of up to double the fiber in the same space and more bandwidth using existing ducts.
The small OD and bend resilience of SMF-28 Contour fiber enables smaller, more flexible cables that are easier to handle, route, and transport. One of the most common installation methods is called cable blowing, a process that involves blowing the fiber optic cable through a pre-installed duct. This method is particularly popular in the EU, where there are stricter rules about protecting existing architecture, but it’s becoming increasingly common in the U.S., as there’s utility in maximizing duct space.
SMF-28 Contour fiber provides a significant advantage in reducing installation errors. This bend resilient fiber is meticulously designed to accommodate varying levels of human error during installations. With its 9.2 µm mode field diameter, the compatibility of SMF-28 Contour fiber with most legacy fibers already installed in networks results in an increase of up to 75% in splice yield on test. This compatibility also saves up to 50% of installation time by eliminating the need for remedial work. In addition, the advantage of using an existing duct space comes into play — with this, more fiber can fit into the same space, eliminating the need to dig a new trench. This combination of benefits leads to fewer installation errors and subsequent rework.
Unlocking a more sustainable solution
Denser, versatile cables with a longer lifespan mean more sustainable solutions as well. Sustainability is an increasingly important consideration to installers and cable providers, particularly as they work to meet reporting requirements.
But regulations aside, sustainability-driven innovation is a core value for Corning. We design with sustainability in mind from the start because we believe it’s our responsibility to be good stewards of our planet.
SMF-28 Contour reduces the materials required within cables, enabling smaller, denser, lighter cable designs that have a more efficient use of materials, packaging and transportation. Combined, these factors lead to up to a 60% carbon footprint reduction in cables.
Fiber without compromise doesn't come easy. At Corning, we understand fiber design and the needs of end users, and we innovate with the intention to open up the design space for product development. Innovations like bend resilient fibers with low OD allow product designers to then create cable and connectivity solutions that boost efficiency and reduce carbon footprints. SMF-28 Contour fiber is already available in current products, and there’s more to come as we continue to innovate and design solutions for networks of the future.
