Keystone Academy

Optical Fibre Cable - Deconstructed

Written by Keystone Academy | Feb 21, 2023

Optical Fibre Cables (OFCs) transmit data in many critical telecommunication applications. These cables are suitable for long-distance applications due to their wide bandwidth. They are also known for having high transmission rates against electromagnetic interference (EMIs). Data in the form of optic monochromatic electro-waves can be transmitted with the aid of glass waveguides.

Selected Key Characteristics of an Optical Fibre Cable

High Resistance to Noise

OFC is highly resistant to noise partially because of the construction, which includes non-metallic glass cladding. Data is transmitted through the cladding using light pulse signals, which makes the cable immune to noise and increases the transmission rate.

Security

Unlike copper cable systems, OFCs can be installed in a central location, and data is kept secure due to the high resistance to noise, such as EMIs. This results in the least number of corrupted data packets lost in your network system.

  Longer Bandwidth Distancing

OFCs have a more extended bandwidth that allows information to be transmitted faster than networks of the highest speed using copper cables. As OFCs are made of mediums with a lower power usage rate during data transmission. OFCs can reach approximately 10km in bandwidth distance compared to copper cables' traditional 100m distance.

Construction of an Optical Fibre Cable

No. Cable Part Description
1 Optical Fibres with Coating
  • A medium comprising several strands made using glass or plastic to transport optical signals from a light source to the receiving application
  • These strands carry the light signals
  • The coating protects the glass
2 Loose Tube (Buffer)
  • Keeps the light in the core
  • Cannot be separated from the core
3 Binder Tape
  • Prevents penetration of water and moisture inside the cable
4 Central Strength Member
  • Provides tensile strength
5 Corrugated Steel Tape (CST)
  • Protects the inside of the fibres from possible mechanical stress caused by rodent and termite attacks
6 Outer Sheath
  • Reduces abrasion and provides extra protection against external mechanical effects

 

Keystone's Commitment to Our Clients

We are committed to providing exceptional customer satisfaction to our clients through a quality management system.

Our experienced and highly-skilled inspectors ensure that newly manufactured optical fibres are tested in a clean, dust-free room environment and that each cable meets international standards (IEC, ITU-T, EIA/TIA).

To learn more about structured cabling solutions, check out our blog here.

For more enquiries regarding Keystone's optical fibre cables, contact us here.