Corning has explained the main features of its innovative Corning SMF-28 Contour optical fiber that will assist telecom operators to address the number of connected devices, build-out of 5G networks, and advances in cloud computing.
Corning’s management team engineered SMF-28 Contour fiber in order to allow customers to upgrade their optical infrastructures, enabling the cost-effective deployment of future-ready networks.
Features of the fiber
Superior bendability designed to reduce the impact of errors during installation and optimize reach in densely cabled environments where 5G networks are being deployed.
SMF-28 Contour fiber is an ITU-T G.657.A2 fiber that has 10 times the macrobend resilience of G.652.D fibers and seven times the macrobend resilience of G.657.A1 fibers. The associated increase in microbend resilience enables dense, high-fiber-count cables needed to meet the demands of future high-capacity networks.
Exceptional compatibility with legacy networks while providing superior bend protection, which can mean up to 50 percent faster installation by minimizing corrective splice-loss work.
Other G.657.A2 fibers also provide bend protection but with a compromised, lower mode field diameter. SMF-28 Contour fiber does not compromise, providing both G.657.A2 bend protection and a matched 9.2-micron mode field diameter in the same product.
First, SMF-28 Contour fiber’s industry-leading low attenuation delivers 10 percent longer reach in all networks and up to 20 percent wider access-network coverage. Second, SMF-28 Contour fiber’s bend loss protection enables up to twice the network reach in new long-wavelength fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) systems. Together, these features enable larger FTTH subscriber areas and greater revenue potential.
SMF-28 Contour fiber is available in a standard 242-micron configuration and a smaller 190-micron configuration. Smaller-diameter designs are increasingly important because while bandwidth demands have grown, the space available for network infrastructure has not. The 190-micron version of SMF-28 Contour fiber enables smaller cables with higher fiber counts – maximizing use of existing infrastructure.
“Corning’s SMF-28 Contour optical fiber is the latest example of our ability to solve tough industry challenges,” said Dr. Bernhard Deutsch, vice president and general manager, Corning Optical Fiber and Cable.
Corning will highlight SMF-28 Contour fiber at the virtual Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition, held June 7 through 11.
