With three networks' combination, new IPTV business and dramatic development of big data dealing and other information demands, demands for communicational network bandwidth have shown an explosive trend of growth and backbone network transmission bandwidth has achieved an average annual growth of over 50%. To adapt to the dramatic increase of network flow, it is predicted that 400G era will come in 2017. As the infrastructure of optical network construction, fiber' life length lasts for more than 20 years. But when laying and construction are in place, it is difficult for fiber to change. Thus, we have to take all network demands within fiber's life length when we choose one fiber. And ultra-low-loss fiber is popular among consumers.

Development of Ultra Low-loss Fiber

In the field of ultra-low-loss fiber, Corning leads the way.

In 1970, the US Corning company successfully researched and developed low loss quartz fiber with the loss of 17dB／km.

In 1972, the company reduced that loss to 7dB／km.

In 1973, MCVD approach invented by Bell laboratory reduced optical loss to 2.5dB／km.

In the practical use, due to the operation stability and substantial construction cost decrease, ultra-low-loss fiber have continually realized by the industry.

Applications of ultra-low-loss fiber

Within the industry, fiber is divided into the common fiber, low-loss fiber, and ultra-low-loss fiber. Among them, common fiber's attenuation is about 0.20dB/km. The attenuation of low-loss fiber and ultra-low-loss fiber is respectively lower than 0.185dB/km and 0.170dB /km.

Compared to common fiber, low-loss fiber and ultra-low-loss fiber can respectively reduce cross section loss of 2dB and 3dB. Even though the number of cross section keeps unchanged, 17% distance of each cross section will increase and total transmission distance will increase by 17%.

For high-speed transmission network, under the transmission speed rate of 100G, common fiber, low-loss fiber and ultra-low-loss fiber can transmit over 1,000 km. Except for some ultra-long sections, the current common fiber can tackle it; under the transmission speed rate of 400G, low-loss fiber can reduce about 20% regeneration stations while ultra-low-loss fiber about 40%. The benefit is obvious.

Compared to, the excellent characteristics of ultra-low-loss fiber provides network margin for expansion of network transition span and site, for upgrading to the faster bit rate and an increase of network components' flexibility or extension of the distance between regenerators in order to achieve longer and wider regional network to satisfy the global increasing demand for bandwidth capacity.

In addition to the above advantages, using ultra-low-loss fiber can greatly reduce cost. The increase of transmission distance means the decrease of systematic regeneration stations which means that people can save millions of investment in RMB.

Benefits of Low Loss Cable and Ultra Low Loss Cable

Low attenuation loss is the primary benefit when choosing a low loss or ultra low loss cable. This is critical in microwave, military, WLAN, wireless, cellular as well as medical applications. Another benefit of low loss and ultra low loss types of cables are the different physical or mechanical types such as flexible, formable or semi-rigid.  Each physical type allows it to perform as needed in a multitude of different environments and applications.

Considerations when choosing a Low Loss Cable and Ultra Low Loss Cable

• Characteristic Impedance: best to match with other components in the system

• Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR)

• Frequency

• Signal Attenuation

• Power

• Noise or Cross Coupling

• Phase Delay

• Physical Environment

What is Ultra-Low Loss?

This blog post is part of a series called “CommScope Definitions” in which we will explain common terms in communications network infrastructure.

Ultra-Low Loss describes the performance of fiber optic apparatus used in data center (DC) networks. Data centers are always striving to increase the capacity to deliver services to their users. Like a finely tuned racing car, higher performance is a never-ending engineering challenge. As performance ramps up, each and every component is highly stressed and the overall performance of the car and the team depends on the performance of the smallest parts.

Data centers are much the same. DC capacity is built upon the physical fiber optic network cabling. This infrastructure is constantly increasing the speed and efficiency, enabling higher data throughput. Maintaining the flow of data is now dependent of preserving as much of the data signals as possible. Fiber cabling and connections lose a certain amount of signal – yet they are absolutely necessary to carry the information around the DC and eventually to the end users. Over time, the performance of these components has improved. Today, the standard of high performance is Ultra-Low Loss.

Ultra Low Loss Fiber Cables are among the highest performing fiber cables available, featuring a rugged single-piece body connector with a latch trigger up to 4x stronger than standard connectors. While ordinary LC fiber cables maintain an insertion loss of 0.30dB, Ultra Low Loss LC Fiber Cables produce an insertion loss of only 0.12dB, providing exceptional performance and lower power consumption. LCElite fiber cables feature a flexible boot capable of being bent into any direction and maintain its position, to reduce congestion in high density areas.

The use of specialized Bend-Insensitive fiber reduces the amount of performance loss that comes from light leaks and excessive physical stress in ordinary fiber jacketing. These premium features create the industry’s highest performing fiber cables and pair perfectly with 10G, 40G, or 100G networks.

Available in Single-Mode (G.657.A2) with a core/cladd

Conclusion

With the coming of the 400G era, ultra-low-loss fiber inevitably attracts more and more attention for its numerous cost advantages. Due to the integrity of the industrial chain, the mature technology of ultra-low-loss fiber will also be an important element to promote the earlier coming of the 400G era. We believe that ultra-low-loss fiber will be more widely used in future communication.