Product category:
Cables and Wires
News Release from: Prysmian Cables and Systems | Subject: PrimaLight
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 21 December 2005
Single-mode fibre breaks through size
barrier
Scientists at Prysmian Cables and Systems in Italy have made a significant breakthrough in optical fibre design with the production of a reduced size, 200um-diameter single-mode fibre.
Scientists at Prysmian Cables and Systems in Italy have made a significant breakthrough in optical fibre design with the production of a reduced size, 200um-diameter single-mode fibre - PrimaLight The conventional diameter of optical fibres for telecomms use has, for many years been 250um and almost all optical cables use this size of fibre in their construction
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 14 May 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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However, as telecomms networks continue to develop and the extent of fibre in these networks goes deeper towards the end user, the level of congestion in underground cable ducts, particularly in highly populated urban environments, is becoming a critical issue.
Manufacturers have made great efforts to reduce cable diameters through the use of improved manufacturing techniques and enhanced performance materials within the cable construction.
This has helped the congestion problem considerably although the lower limits of cable diameter have now realistically been reached.
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SM Light is a new, improved single-mode fibre product from Pirelli Telecom Cables and Systems.
Reduced splice losses boost fibre reach
Pirelli has significantly enhanced the performance of its long-distance optical fibre to help operators cut costs by further reducing signal attenuation from splice loss.
Now, by reducing to 200um the diameter of the fibre itself - the basic building block of any cable - an additional step-change in cable diameter is possible.
Agusti Valls, Senior VP of Product Development and Quality for the Prysmian cable business stated: "This opens up tremendous possibilities on the cable design front".
"For example, with the PrimaLight fibre we can now include 16 fibres into a tube element that previously had a limit of 12".
"Alternatively, smaller tubes can be employed to hold similar fibre counts to those used previously".
"The effect on overall cable diameter is significant and for very high fibre count designs - commonly deployed in the access networks - overall diameter reductions exceeding 10% are possible".
Dr Giacomo Roba, who leads the Fibre R and D activity, added: "The 250um diameter has, for many years, been the de facto standard".
"However, with every other aspect of cable and fibre design under review we felt that this particular fibre parameter should be no exception".
"We are very pleased with the results of the work we have undertaken and we believe that with PrimaLight we have made a significant breakthrough which will have far-reaching effects".
The 200um fibre, which has been made possible by use of innovative technology, features an identical glass core (125um) to the traditional 250um product, is in full compliance with ITU-T Recommendation G 652 and has satisfied all IEC testing requirements for transmission, mechanical and environmental performance.
The relevant technology is covered by patents and patent applications.
PrimaLight is currently being introduced into selected Prysmian cable designs and will be available for use within a broader portfolio of cables during the course of 2006.
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