My TN Connection

As modern optical networks continue to evolve and push their way into the last mile of Fiber to the Home (FTTx) applications, new and interesting products are being developed to address the needs of FTTx deployments. One development that has stormed onto the scene and made it’s presence known across the industry is Bend-Insensitive Fiber. Bend-insensitive fiber is a specific classification of single-mode that is able to be bent beyond the bend radius limits of traditional fiber optic cabling, without an additional increase in attenuation. Although most manufacturers are being fairly secretive about their specific processes, the concept is that the cladding that surrounds the fiber’s core is being manufactured with a number of holes that run parallel to the fiber’s axis. When the fiber is bent, these tiny holes serve to relieve stress on the cladding and buffer any effect on the core of the fiber optic strand, where the signal is being carried. continue »