Fiber Optic Cables: Transmission Medium for Communication

Fiber optic cables are a type of communication cable that serves as a medium for transmitting optical waves, playing a crucial role in network communication and data transfer.

Optical fibers are thin strands of glass created by drawing highly pure glass, allowing light to achieve total internal reflection within the glass. This continuous total internal reflection along the inner walls of the fiber enables high-speed signal propagation.

An optical cable consists of a specific number of optical fibers arranged in a certain manner, comprising the core and the protective sheath. The core contains a considerable number of optical fibers, with the optical fiber being the core of the cable, determining its transmission capacity. The protective sheath is usually composed of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, along with aluminum or steel tapes, primarily serving to shield the core. It possesses excellent resistance to lateral pressure, sealing, moisture protection, and corrosion resistance.

Optical cables are the final products of the fiber optic cable industry, typically sold directly to end customers, including telecommunication operators for constructing communication lines.

Fiber Optic Classification: Single-mode fiber, multi-mode fiber

Based on the transmission mode of light in the fiber, optical fibers are categorized as single-mode and multi-mode. The term "mode" refers to the path light takes as it enters the fiber at a certain angle. Since the core diameters vary, the number of transmission modes in optical fibers differs. Single-mode corresponds to smaller core diameters, allowing light to transmit in a single mode. Multi-mode corresponds to larger core diameters, enabling multiple modes of light transmission. These two types differ in physical properties, transmission modes, bandwidth, application scenarios, transmission, and installation costs.

Single-mode fibers have a core-cladding diameter ratio of 9:125μm. They enable high-speed, long-distance transmission in a single mode and are used in long-distance optical cable networks, although their transmission and installation costs are higher. Multi-mode fibers have a core-cladding diameter ratio of 50 or 62.5:125μm. They allow light to be transmitted in multiple modes within the core and cladding, making them suitable for local area networks, data centers, enterprise intranets, campus networks, etc., with lower transmission and installation costs.

Fiber Types: Communication fiber, specialty fiber

Specialty fibers include various types of optical fibers with special functions other than conventional communication fibers. These encompass active fibers, power delivery fibers, polarization-maintaining fibers, and more. Specialty fibers possess unique properties in terms of doped elements, operating wavelengths, waveguide structures, and optical performance. Their production processes are complex, requiring high technical requirements and closer alignment with end-user needs.

According to forecasts, the global specialty fiber market is expected to reach $42.13 billion by 2025, with a CAGR of 18.1%. In 2024, China's specialty fiber market is anticipated to reach ¥18.74 billion, with a CAGR of 13.9%.

Preform and Production Process: The preform is a cylindrical high-purity quartz glass rod, with the central part (core) made of higher refractive index glass and the outer part (cladding) made of lower refractive index glass. This is the core material for manufacturing fibers and the most technically demanding and complex part of the process.

The quality of preform significantly affects fiber purity, tensile strength, effective refractive index, attenuation, etc. The cost of preform accounts for approximately 65%-70% of the fiber cost.

Preforms can be produced using various methods, mainly based on vapor-phase deposition. Core preparation methods include Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition (MCVD), Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition (PCVD), Vapor Axial Deposition (VAD), and Outside Vapor Deposition (OVD). Cladding methods include Rod-In-Tube Chemical Vapor Deposition (RIC) and Powder-In-Tube method. The development of preforms is closely linked with the development of fiber optic cables.

Fiber and Production Process: An optical fiber, also known as an optical waveguide, is a medium for transmitting light beams. It consists of a core, cladding, and coating layer, typically structured as a multilayer coaxial cylinder. Optical fibers possess significant advantages, including high communication capacity, long relay distances, strong confidentiality, and adaptability. They are extensively used in communication transmission. The core, composed mainly of high-purity silicon dioxide and a minimal amount of dopants, has a higher refractive index than the cladding, leading to lower losses and allowing light energy to be transmitted mainly within the core. The cladding, composed primarily of high-purity silicon dioxide with minimal dopants, provides reflection surfaces and light isolation, while mechanically protecting the core. The coating layer, the outermost layer, is made of acrylic ester, silicone rubber, and nylon, primarily used to reduce moisture intrusion and mechanical abrasion.

The core process in fiber production is drawing. A 6-meter preform glass rod is initially fired and then placed in a 10-meter-high drawing machine. It is heated to 2200 degrees, maintaining the glass in a molten state. Molten glass continuously drips under the influence of gravity, becoming thinner and thinner, ultimately forming bare optical fibers. After passing through a coating and curing system, the fibers are wound onto a drum using traction rolls, achieving winding speeds exceeding 1 kilometer per minute.

Founded in 2007, Faso Photonics Technology Limited Company is a professional company engaged in R&D, manufacturing and distribution for optical fiber networking and telecom products,such as fiber optic cable, fiber optic patch cords, fiber optic pigtails, PLC splitters, Patch panels, splice closures and other FTTX products. We invested a factory covered an area of about 10,000 square meters (m²) with professional facility, we have 4 production line of fiber optic indoor cable and drop cable, 4 production line of outdoor cable, 4 production line of patch cord assembly and 2 production line of PLC splitters etc. Faso has obtained ISO 9001:2015, CE, RoHS certifications since 2013, owned 8 technical patents for fiber optic cable and related products. Professional products and top service built us a great business network and we looking forward to work with you for long term relationship.