Billed as the world's first terrestrial hollow-core fiber (HCF) solution, details on the OFS AccuCore HCF Optical Fiber Cable, the manufacturer's latest HCF product, were presented as a post-deadline paper on March 12 at OFC 2020 in San Diego. OFC post-deadline papers represent the latest and most advanced technical achievements in the field of optical communications technology.
As noted by OFS, light travels about 50% faster in a hollow core compared to a solid silica core of conventional optical fiber. Consequently, light transmitted in a hollow-core fiber arrives 1.54 microseconds faster for each kilometer traveled compared with conventional optical fiber.
The paper reported error-free transmission of direct-detection 10 Gb/s DWDM signals over 3.1 km of cascaded cabled HCF. This is the first time that transmission results in a cabled HCF have been reported, noted the manufacturer.
Per OFS, "The AccuCore HCF Optical Fiber Cable solution is based on proven hollow-core fiber technology and includes indoor/outdoor cable and termination with standard connectors, which are fusion spliced to the patented photonic bandgap hollow-core fiber. OFS also offers installation services and both passive and active component selection to meet customer requirements. AccuCore HCF optical fiber cable has been successfully deployed, carrying live traffic in several networks."
Key applications for the AccuCore HCF include: high-frequency trading; high-performance computing; 5G X-haul mobile networks; and intra-data center interconnection.
"The AccuCore HCF optical fiber cable solution is designed for ease of use, thereby simplifying customer's access to this emerging technology," said Daryl Inniss, Director of OFS New Business Development. "OFS has been a pioneer developing hollow-core fiber for over ten years and applies its expertise in optical design, process development, and vertical integration to bring this cable solution to market."
For more information, visit https://www.ofsoptics.com/accucore-hcf.