How Using Breakout Fibre Cables Improves Fibre Connectivity
What is a Breakout Fibre Cable?
A fibre optic breakout cable is a fibre cable that has an outer jacket which covers a number of inner tubes containing multiple fibres (usually 12 or 24) each in their own jacket. Each tube of fibres is reinforced with Aramide yarns. Running through the centre of the main cable is a central strength element that further protects the tubes containing the fibres, along with a ripcord that aids easier removal of the outer jacket during installation.
Each individual fibre has a colour coded jacket that follows an international standard and enables easy identification of each fibre.
Also known as fanout cables, they are available in Single Mode or Multi Mode versions.
What’s the difference between Single Mode and Multi Mode?
In short, the difference is the size of the main core of fibre and the distance that data can be carried. A Single Mode cable has a central core of 8 to 10 microns, and carries a single wavelength of light through the centre of the core. This very precise focusing of light enables the signal to travel faster and over longer distances without a loss of signal quality. Multi Mode in comparison has a larger core of either 50 or 62.5 microns, allowing more light to be carried. The light reflects off the core allowing more signals to be carried at once. However, the signal quality cannot be maintained over the same long distances that Single Mode can carry a signal, so the distance is greatly reduced.
Improving Fibre Connectivity with Fibre Breakout Cables
Probably the biggest advantage with breakout cables is the reduction of cable bulk and the time saved during deployment. Fibre breakout cables are available with anything from 12 to 288 fibres in one cable, with versions that are suitable for deploying internally or externally. Changes in 2017 to cable fire ratings dictate which cables can be used internally. The CPR rating of external cables means that they do not reach the code required to be used internally. As result HUBER+SUHNER have added a universal breakout cable that meets the CPR rating for internal use and has the reinforcement required for external use. This makes it an ideal choice for fibres coming into a building and into the Meet Me Room. Internal breakout cables from HUBER+SUHNER have an excellent B class CPR rating making them an ideal cable to use to form the backbone of the fibre network. With breakout cables carrying more fibres it means a reduction in the number of cables needing to be run through the facility. Cable management within meet me room ODFs and other MDA becomes easier as there is less cable bulk, with the individual tubes of fibres run and spliced into fibre trays. Breakout cables can also be terminated with connectors either in the field or pre-terminated in the factory, making them the ideal choice for use in modular 19 inch rack mounted fibre management systems such as IANOS. Modular and scalable fibre management systems like IANOS, offer a high degree of flexibility in terms of network design and enable network expansion and technology changes on demand through it’s use of swappable connectivity modules. Breakout cables pre-terminated with MTP connectors (often referred to as trunk cables) can form part of the backbone infrastructure in such systems.
As fibre cable is a high value element of any network’s passive physical layer, EDP Europe offers a cable cutting service that allows our clients to order the exact lengths of cable required for a job. By taking advantage of this service customers benefit from reduced costs, reduced risk & easier and safer cable handling as a result of smaller drum sizes, and accelerated installation times.
If you would like to know more about HUBER+SUHNER breakout fibre cables and how they can help improve your fibre connectivity please contact us.
