Choosing the right drop cable will directly affect network reliability,operational flexibility and the economics of FTTH deployment.

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Fiberstore White Paper | Picking the Right Drop Cable for the Long Run 1
Introduction
An emerging interest in fiber to the home (FTTH) networks has swept over the whole
telecommunications industry. With continuing demand for more bandwidth, telecommunication
service providers have begun to deploy optical fiber deeper into the network and closer to the
subscriber residence. The drop cable connection serves as a key component in FTTH networks.
Choosing the right drop cable interconnect solution will directly affect network reliability,
operational flexibility and the economics of FTTH deployment. This article will highlight the various
technical considerations which should be made when selecting optical drop cable for FTTH
networks.
Typical Optical Drop Cable Design
Optical drop cable serves as the direct link from the service provider distribution network to the
subscriber. This cable typically contains no more than 12 optical fibers, located loosely in a buffer
tube. The following four cable designs presented in this article are the most commonly used
nowadays. You can choose the most suitable one for your specific requirement.
 Figure-8 Optical Drop Cable
Figure-8 optical drop cables are composed of two distinct subcomponents—a central tube cable
fixed to a steel wire (see Figure 1). This cable design is to combine the installation of the messenger
wire and optical cable into a single process. This cable is typically used in aerial applications.
Picking the Right Drop
Cable for the Long Run

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 All-dielectric Optical Drop Cable
All-dielectric optical drop cables have the optical fibers placed in a centrally located buffer tube. This
drop cable design supports direct buried, conduit and aerial self-support application. The
all-dielectric design (shown in Figure 2) is the most commonly used optical drop type today.
 Armored Optical Drop Cable
Armored optical drop cables also have the optical fibers placed in centrally located buffer tube. A
protective metallic foil surrounds the buffer tube and provides an additional protective barrier for
the optical fibers. A representative design is shown in Figure 3.

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 Toneable Optical Drop Cable
Toneable optical drop cables are similar to the Figure-8 design and composed of two distinct
subcomponents. This cable design is to combine an all-dielectric cable for buried applications with
location capability. An example of this type of cable structure is shown in Figure 4.
Tensile strength
As we can see from the above figures, there are different types of strength members in optical drop
cables. The strength member is used to ensure that no tensile stress is placed on the optical fiber
during and after installation. It does not have physical limitations. But if tensile forces exceed the
physical limitations of the cable, it will cause damage to the cable and possibly break the optical
fiber. Excessive tensile loading may also create macrobends, causing the optical fiber to attenuate a
signal.
The standard tensile rating represents the maximum allowable installation load for the cable. The
standard tensile ratings for products covered by this standard are 1335 N (300 lbf) for cables
designed for installation by pulling, and 440 N (100 lbf) for cables that are direct-buried, placed in
the ground by trenching equipment, or blown into ducts.
Factory-terminated vs. Field-terminated
Factory-terminated and field-terminated connectivity methods are both widely used for drop cable
installations. Each alternative has its pros and cons. So how to choose?
Factory-terminated drop cables can provide high-performing, reliable connections. The controlled
manufacturing process provides consistent fiber end-face geometry, resulting in low optical loss.
Factory termination also keeps labor costs low by reducing installation time. However, compared to
field-terminated alternatives, factory-terminated cables can be expensive. Because they are only
available in pre-determined lengths, technicians have to run the risk of being caught in the field

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without the proper length of patch cable, causing installation delays and adding to labor costs. To
sum up, this may be acceptable for indoor patch cords, but outdoor drop cable replacement can be
expensive considering the cost of aerial or buried installation.
Field termination, on the other hand, uses reels of bulk cable cut to the appropriate length on-site,
saving cost and rendering slack cable management systems moot. This development significantly
reduces the required time for drop cable installation by permitting rapid connection of
connectorized cable to terminals or closures via externally mounted bulkhead adapters. This in turn
reduces the overall cost of subscriber connection, as well as allowing for proven durability and
reliability within the drop section of the network.
Conclusion
Taking the above factors into consideration will ensure you make the right selection of optical drop
cable, which is critical to ensure the long-term reliability of FTTH networks. Fiberstore supplies FTTH
drop cables with SC/FC/LC connectors. With our professional FTTH cabling system solution, you can
get complete solution to build or expand fiber optic network capacity. For more information, please
visit www.fs.com.
Contact Us
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Notice: This document is for informational purposes only and does not set forth any warranty, expressed or
implied, concerning any equipment, equipment features, or service offered or to be offered by Fiberstore.
Fiberstore reserves the right to make changes to this document at any time, without notice, and assumes no
responsibility for its use. This information document describes features that may not be currently available.
Contact a Fiberstore sales team for information on feature and product availability.
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