Corning introduces 200-micron singlemode fiber for smaller-diameter fiber cables

Corning Incorporated recently announced the Corning SMF-28 Ultra 200 fiber, which the company describes as “the industry’s first 200-micron fiber with a 9.2-micron nominal mode-field diameter (MFD),” adding that the bend-resilient fiber “enables the design of smaller, lighter, fully backwards-compatible high-fiber, high-density cables.”

The company explained the landscape into which this fiber was developed and introduced: “As global demand for bandwidth continues to explode, smaller cables with higher optical fiber counts are needed. Conventional ITU-T recommendation G.657-compliant 200-micron fibers may have a nominal mode field diameter (MFD) as low as 8.6 microns, resulting in an MFD mismatch with legacy 9.2-micron MFD ITU-T G.652-compliant fiber in existing networks. By combining ITU-T G.657.A1 compliance with a 9.2-micron MFD, SMF-28 Ultra 200 fiber uniquely delivers enhanced bend resistance and seamless integration with the installed ITU-T G.652 fiber base in a 200-micron product.”

Corning added that its family of SMF-28 Ultra fibers—of which Ultra 200 is the most recent innovation—offers “enhanced optical bending resilience for innovative cable design with a macro-bending response surpassing the requirements of ITU-T G.657.A1 recommendations. The fiber’s low attenuation improves signal reach up to 10 percent over conventional ITU-T G.652 fiber types and increases coverage as much as 20 percent when served by a point-of-presence or central office.”

John Igel, vice president and general manager of Corning Optical Fiber and Cable, commented, “Corning SMF-28 Ultra 200 fiber helps solve one of the world’s toughest network challenges—increasing fiber capacity without taking up more space. With the problem of MFD compatibility eliminated, network operators have the freedom to deploy fiber-rich 200-micron cables to address capacity and congestion—with the proven performance of SMF-28 Ultra fiber.”