Tianjin Alcoa International Trade Co., Ltd. , https://www.tjalcoa.com
Fiber optic cables play a vital role in the "Broadband China" initiative, and their technological development has attracted significant attention and research from industry experts. Recently, frontline operators shared insights on the application of new fiber products developed by FiberHome Communications in real-world projects. This kind of collaboration between operators and manufacturers helps accelerate the development and production of equipment tailored for network fiber optic needs. They are now summarizing these opinions to provide valuable references for optical network construction across the country.
**Air Blown Microcable Technology: A Game Changer**
As a mature and innovative solution for optical network construction, air blown microcable technology offers an effective way to address the pipeline resource bottleneck faced by China Mobile. It is expected to support the future development of smart fiber networks.
Since its introduction to China in 2001, this technology has been widely applied in long-haul, metropolitan, and access networks after over a decade of development. With its growing adoption, related piping, fittings, and construction services have become commercially available domestically, eliminating technical barriers.
In recent years, with China Mobile’s full-service operations, large-scale FTTH deployment, and 3G/4G expansion, traffic has surged, increasing demand for fiber optic cables in metropolitan areas. However, due to historical constraints, pipeline resources are limited, and road excavation is not feasible in urban areas. This has led to a severe shortage of pipeline capacity. To overcome this, existing pipelines can be utilized more efficiently by manually placing microtubes and blowing microcables into them, enabling capacity expansion and fiber access without additional infrastructure.
Compared to directly pulling new cables, using microtubes and air-blown microcables offers several advantages: they are lighter, easier to install, reduce construction time and cost, allow higher core density, and protect existing cables better. Therefore, this method is an excellent solution for addressing pipeline shortages.
However, while air blown microcable technology is mature, it requires specialized equipment, uniform microtubes with silicon lubricant layers, and proper fittings. Many operators lack the necessary expertise and tools. To address this, China Mobile should consider a service package model, where manufacturers like FiberHome provide integrated solutions, including cables, pipes, fittings, and construction.
Guangdong Mobile recently launched a tender using this approach, and FiberHome demonstrated strong capabilities in providing high-performance microcables tested by foreign professionals, proving the effectiveness of this strategy.
**Low-Loss Fiber in High-Speed Transmission Systems**
Optical fibers are the backbone of modern communication networks. Their transmission performance directly impacts system efficiency. As technologies like polarization-multiplexed phase modulation and digital coherent reception advance, WDM 100G systems have emerged, reducing the impact of dispersion and PMD. However, fiber nonlinearity remains a challenge.
To improve signal quality, the effective area of the fiber must increase. New large-mode fibers can boost this area by 70%, improving transmission distance and OSNR. G.652D fibers remain popular, with manufacturers like FiberHome producing low-loss versions below 0.185 dB/km. These fibers enable long-distance transmission without relays, supporting 100G deployments at competitive costs.
For 400G and beyond, larger mode areas and ultra-low loss are needed to reduce nonlinear effects and ASE noise. Future fibers may feature 130 μm² mode areas, 0.17 dB/km attenuation, and 0.8 Wâ»Â¹Â·kmâ»Â¹ nonlinearity. While such products are not yet commercial, hybrid noise or Raman OA systems could enhance performance.
Operators will likely adopt new fibers only when technology matures and costs are manageable. For now, G.652D remains a practical choice, offering reliable and cost-effective solutions for current and future demands.
**Circular Introduction of Optical Cables in FTTH Deployment**
With rising information demands, users require faster and broader bandwidths. Broadband networks and smart buildings are expanding rapidly, driving global FTTH initiatives. Fiber optic cables are essential for this growth, but their design and performance vary based on building structures and environments.
Currently, butterfly optical cables are widely used in China due to their low cost. However, they suffer from structural limitations, poor redundancy, and limited outdoor use. To address this, FiberHome introduced circular optical cables, which offer better tensile strength, flexibility, and resistance to bending and environmental stress.
These cables were tested extensively with China Telecom, showing superior performance in various applications. Jiangsu Branch has deployed over 20,000 km of circular cables, outperforming traditional butterfly cables. They are now preferred in narrow spaces and wet environments.
To standardize production and usage, FiberHome is developing industry standards for circular cables. This innovation is expected to drive widespread adoption in FTTH projects, alongside advancements in matching devices and engineering practices.