Ribbon fibres – ribbon cables

• What does a ribbon cable look like?
• Many types
  • Slotted core helical stranded
  • Probably the oldest design
• With a central strength member
• Slotted core S-Z stranded
  • For easy mid span breakout
  • Usually deployed in aerial distribution networks

• Central tube
  • Original ‘higher density’ designs
  • Can be best choice for air blown installation

• Ribbon in loose tube

• Ultra high fibre count, “UHFC”
  • Commonly deployed in hyperscale data centres
  • 3456 fibres in a 28mm diameter cable is commercially available
  • Maximum fibre counts continue to increase