21285 - SCTE Broadband Dec2021 COMPLETE v1

48 Vol. 43 No. 4 - November 2021 Issue Over the last 30 years, fibre optic cabling has evolved to support our new era of hyper connectivity, linking continents, countries, cities, antennas and homes. And that is not set to change. by Prysmian Group Bend-insensitive fibres: In 2019, more than 550 million kilometres of optical fibre cables were installed globally, compared with just 200 million kilometres in 2010. This growth is expected to continue with the invention and adoption of new technologies, driving us into a new era of digital demand. To support the exponential growth of data traffic and adoption of new technologies, it is crucial that we increase the capacity of the world’s optical networks. Optical cabling systems need to offer faster, more reliable and cost-effective deployment methods in order to be future-proof, as well as support the complete optical spectrum – from 1260nm at the beginning of the Original O-band, up to 1625 and 1675nm at the ends of the Long L-band and Ultralong U-band. Bend-insensitive single mode fibres (ITU-T G.657.A1 and G.657.A2) are a crucial part of the world’s shift towards flexible and reliable connectivity. They are the only fibres capable of securing the whole fibre spectrum, especially at the longer wavelengths (1625nm and above), by minimising losses linked to macro- and microbends. These fibres enable the development of extreme fibre count and reduced diameter cabling solutions, so we can meet today’s demand for the highest bandwidth capacity in duct installations. Not only will we see benefits through faster and more stable optical networks, installations will become more cost effective, more environmentally friendly, all with lower operational costs as network lifespan increases thanks to higher repair resilience. What is bend-insensitivity? There are two types of bend-insensitivity: Millimetre-range macrobend-insensitivity Macrobends are visible to the naked eye, such as fibre cabling which bends around corners, inside splicing closures and within connectivity devices. Macrobending is especially likely to occur within high-density networks, as space is limited to route and accommodate fibres within connectivity devices. Micrometre-range microbend-insensitivity Microbends refer to microscopic local effects on a cable – for example, cable material squeezing the fibre. Such bends can occur due to the cable’s reduced diameter, or because the cable has been squeezed by external pressure – common over the long lifecycle of a cable. Microbends can also occur during temperature variations, which can induce material shrinkage, and is especially likely to occur within high-density cables, as fibres can touch due to material shrinkage or other strain. While bend-insensitive technical a key component of future-proof networks