Increasing Data Traffic Requires Full Spectral Window Usage In Optical Single-Mode Fiber Cables

Increasing Data Traffic Requires Full Spectral Window Usage In Optical Single-Mode Fiber Cables Ryan Chappell and Daniel Daems White Paper

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The optical fiber network infrastructures installed today will typically see four generations of transmission systems over the network s expected lifetime. As recent history has shown, the amount of data traffic these networks will carry will increase dramatically and continuously. A completely open spectral transmission window from160nm to165nm for data transmission and up to1650nm for network monitoring is necessary in optical fiber cables in order to cope with this increasing growth. Introduction The optical fiber network infrastructures installed today will typically see four generations of transmission systems over the network s expected lifetime. As recent history has shown, the amount of data traffic these networks will carry will increase dramatically and continuously. A completely open spectral transmission window from 160nm to 165nm for data transmission and up to1650nm for network monitoring is necessary in optical fiber cables in order to cope with this increasing growth. Cable type testing needs to be extended to 165nm to guarantee cable performance at the higher wavelengths, where macro- and micro-bending loss may obscure the attenuation limits of cables under severe circumstances. The latest bend-improved fibers (.657) support this optimization, particularly for demanding cable designs. In principle, optical fibers offer a tremendous amount of potential transmission bandwidth or capacity, currently used for a wide range of applications, such as long-distance data transmission (e.g. internet traffic), fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and cable television (CATV). Maximizing transmission capacity, requires new optimized fiber designs and communication techniques, which have been developed over the last decades in multiple steps, beginning with increased bit rates in telecommunications applications (TDM: Time Domain Multiplexing, currently standardized up to 40 b/s). (See Figure 1.) ICREASED UMBER OF USERS X ICREASED ACCESS RATES X ICREASED SERVICES BADWIDTH EXPLOSIO Increased number of users lobally, the number of Internet users is forecasted to increase from 1.9 billion users in 010 to 3 billion users in 015 with nearly 15 billion fixed and mobile networked devices Increased access rates Fourfold increase in fixed broadband speeds is forecasted for 015, as the average fixed broadband speed of 7 Mbps in 010 is expected to rise to 8 Mbps in 015 Increased services Social media, gaming, video on demand, HDTV, etc. Starting at 1310nm, new wavelength transmission bands were introduced, first focusing on the 1550nm band for lower fiber attenuation. Finally the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standardized transmission wavelength bands for optical communication over the entire wavelength range between 160nm and 1675nm (O-, E-, S-, C-, L and U-band; shown in Figure ), supporting Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) techniques from 160nm to 165nm. Improved fiber designs and transmission techniques developed over the last three decades realized a 10-fold capacity increase every four years (see Figure 3). rowth in data traffic and FTTH-networks One of the most stable factors in today s communication world is the continued growth in data traffic. A multiplication of strongly increasing factors is leading to a bandwidth explosion 4 : It is forecasted that from 010 to 015 global IP traffic will experience a fourfold increase from 0 exabyte per month in 010 to 81 exabyte per month in 015, a 3 % compound annual growth rate (CAR). (ote: 1 exabyte is 10 18 bytes.) Mobile data (even accounting for only 7.77 % of the overall traffic in 015) will experience a major 9 % CAR between 010 and 015. Worldwide installation of the latest generation of mobile networks (4) supports further growth in mobile video and in some countries (e.g. South Korea) the fifth generation mobile network (5) is already on the horizon. It is clear this huge increase in bandwidth demand needs to be supported by adequate optical transmission techniques. One of these techniques is WDM techniques, in particular focusing on the higher wavelengths: C- and L-band, up to 165 nm (Figure ).

Development of FTTH passive optical network (PO) systems also demands the largest available fiber optical transmission spectrum. Starting with PO, relatively easy wavelength bands are used (upstream: 190 1330nm; downstream: 1480 1500nm, with video overlay around 1550-1560nm). Discussions about X-PO and in particular future -PO (WDM- PO) claim the outer ranges of the fiber spectrum (up to 165nm). (See Figure 4[5].) System monitoring is foreseen at 1650nm. In order to guarantee future-proof applications, optical fiber cables currently installed should support full usage of all transmission bands. Standardization of optical fibers and cables The workhorse among installed fiber types is category.65, the first edition being standardized in ITU-T in 1984 and developed over time to the most current sub-category.65.d. This fiber category is by far the most widely installed fiber globally.[6] For several years ITU-T.65 (cabled) fiber recommendation incorporated the C- and L-band extensions with (cabled) attenuation attributes at 165nm resulting in a wide transmission spectrum from 160 165nm. This wide optical spectrum is used in optical telecommunication: Terrestrial Long Distance, Submarine, Metro-, CATV- and FTTH networks (PO and PP). Similar fiber types have also been standardized by the International Electrotechnical Commission. IEC SC86A not only standardized (bare) fiber types (60793--50 series), but also developed a full scale of cable types (indoor, outdoor, aerial and micro-duct cable) serving a extensive range of applications (60794 series of standards). In addition, IEC developed a wide variety of testing methods for cable types, acting globally as the main cable test methods. Recently an important omission was observed in these IEC cable-type testing methods which required only 1550nm as the test wavelength. With the demand for wider wavelength ranges, such cable-type testing should be extended to also include 165nm, a modification that needs to be incorporated in the IEC cable-type tests. This aspect is a serious issue, since two important cable loss phenomena can be active at the higher wavelengths: macro-bending and microbending loss. Macro-bending loss is caused when the fiber is under constant bend radius. An optical signal, traveling through the fiber core, can lose a fraction of its power in a bent fiber; the tighter the bend radius, the more optical power is lost. Macro-bending loss in single-mode fibers is characterized by a relatively strong increase in loss above a certain wavelength (see Figure 6). Micro-bending loss is caused by longitudinal perturbations of the fiber, usually related to intense contact of cable materials to the optical fiber (e.g. shrinking effects in tight buffered fibers or less optimized loose tube cable designs). Micro-bending effects on fiber are investigated using sandpaper tests in which fiber under investigation is wound with large tension force. Micro-bending loss usually shows less wavelength dependency compared to macro-bending 1000000 100000 b/s 10000 1000 Traffic TDL Research TDL Commercial Figure 1: Points show the capacity of optical communication systems demonstrated in research and commercially; the line indicates the world s total traffic use. [1] 100 10 1 1980 1990 000 010 00 Year WDM Research WDM Commercial 3

Attenuation (db/km) 0.4 O E S C L U 0. 0 150 1350 1450 1550 1650 Wavelength (nm) Figure : Typical spectral attenuation of single-mode fibers, highlighting different transmission bands, defined by ITU-T. [] O-band (Original): E-band (Extended): S-band (Short wavelength): C-band (Conventional): L-band (Long wavelength): U-band (Ultra-long wavelength): 160-1360 nm 1360-1460 nm 1460-1530 nm 1530-1565 nm 1565-165 nm 165-1675 nm (Monitoring only) loss (see Figure 6). Particularly in older cable types, increased loss could be present at higher wavelengths due to macro- and/or micro-bending effects, in particular at 165nm (and certainly at 1650nm for monitoring applications). (See Figure 7.) Loss effects from macro- and micro-bending often manifest themselves in fiber cables under more extreme circumstances, e.g. at low temperatures when cable material shrinkage may induce fiber buckling in the loose tube, causing both macro-bending at small radii as well as microbending caused by pressure in the fiber against the tube wall (see Figure 8). In order to overcome such bending effects, a new category of bend-improved single-mode fibers was standardized by ITU in 006:.657 fibers. Of these fibers, sub-category.657. A fibers offer the lowest bend losses (both macro- as well as micro-bending) while still being fully compatible with.65.d fibers (see Figure 8). These fibers can be used for a wide range of demanding applications and cabling structures, from access networks to fiber-to-the-antenna cables. A very special application for.657 fiber cable is high optical power distribution, e.g. for central office patch cords (used for Raman gain applications, extensive DWDM or high power video overlay). Light stripped off from the fiber core under fiber bending, will be absorbed in the coating. At higher powers, this may lead to overheating of the coating and in extreme situations to catastrophic failures of the coating resulting in fiber breakage, or even 1 Tb/s TDM Figure 3: Transmission capacity development over the last three decades, starting with TDM (Time Domain Multiplexing) and WDM (Wavelength division multiplexing), resulting in a 10 times growth factor each 4 years [3]. 1 b/s 1 Mb/s 4

-PO spectrum (rough consesus) 10nm X-PO upstream -PO upstream 160 170 180 190 1300 1310 130 1330 1340 1350 1360 1530 1531 153 1533 1534 1535 1536 1600 1601 160 1603 1604 1605 1606 -PO downstream Video X 1480 1490 1500 1510 150 1530 1540 1550 1560 1570 1580 1590 1600 1610 Figure 4: Proposed -PO spectrum [5]. worse within a central office, fire..657.a fibers (fully compatible with.65.d fibers) offer the best bending immunity for such applications (see Figure 9). Such.657.A fibers can also quite easily be used with reduced coating protection, e.g. 00μm coating diameter. Reducing the coating diameter usually increases the fiber sensitivity for micro-bending. However, in 00μm coated.657.a fibers, the micro-bending sensitivity is still acceptable (comparable to that for 50μm coated.65.d fiber [see Figure 10]), offering the interesting possibility of strongly reducing cable diameters, especially for high fiber count cables and micro-duct cable. Cable with BI-SMF 657A guarantees open window CommScope is aware of the necessity of future proof optical fiber cable. For that reason CommScope offers single-mode fiber cables with the option of open transmission window at 165nm, enabled by 657.A technology. 5

of optical fibers and cables lost. Macrobending loss in single-mode fibres is characterized by a relative strong loss increase above a wavelength, see Figure 6. Microbending loss is caused by longitudinal perturbations of the fiber, usually related to intense contac materials to the optical fiber (e.g. shrinking effects in tight buffered fibers or less optimized loose tube designs). Microbending effects on fiber are investigated using sand paper tests to which fiber under inv wound with large tension force. Microbending loss usually shows less wavelength dependency compar mong installed fiber types is category.65, the first edition being standardized in ITU-T in 1984 ver time to the current most modern sub-category.65.d. This fiber category is globally by far installed fiber [6]. macrobending loss, see Figure 6. In particular in older cable types, increased loss could be present at hi wavelengths due to macro- and/or microbending effects, in particular 165 nm (and certainly at 1650 n monitoring applications), see Figure 7. Figure 7: Example of total cabled attenuation including effects of macro- and microbending. These macro- and microbending loss effects, often manifest itself in fibre cables under more extreme Figure 6: Example of macro- and microbending loss in.65.d fiber. Figure 5: SMF by circumstances, e.g. at low temperatures Figure when 6: cable Example material of shrinkage macro- and may microbending induce fiber buckling in th Figure 5: Yearly installed SMF by fiber category 65, 655, 657 [6]. causing both macrobending at small radii loss as in well.65.d as microbending fiber. caused by pressure of the fiber again wall, see Figure 8. ITU.65 (cabled) fibre recommendation incorporated the C- and L-band extensions with tion attributes at 165 nm resulting in a wide transmission spectrum from 160 165 nm. This ctrum is used in optical telecommunication: Terrestrial Long Distance, Submarine, Metro- and networks (PO and PP). s have also been standardized by the Int. Electrotechnical Commission. IEC not only standardized s (60793--50 series), but also developed a full scala of cable types (indoor, outdoor, aerial and Figure 7: Example of total cabled attenuation including effects of macro- and microbending. Figure 7: Example of total cabled attenuation including Figure 8: Temperature Figure cycle 8: Temperature test for demanding cycle loose test tube for cable demanding using.65.d loose and.657.a fibe effects of macro- and microbending. tube The cable.657.a using fiber.65.d shows strongly and.657.a improved performance fiber. [7]. The.657.A fiber shows strongly improved se macro- and microbending loss effects, often manifest itself in In fibre order cables to overcome under more such extreme bending effects, in 006 a new category of bending-improved single-mode performance. [7 mstances, e.g. at fire low temperatures (a nightmare when for cable Central material Offices) shrinkage been and may fiber standardized induce breakage. fiber buckling by.657.a ITU: in.657 the loose fibers fibres, tube, (fully of which compatible sub-category with.65.d.657.a fibers) fibers offer offer the lowest bendin ing both macrobending the best at small bending radii as immunity well as microbending for such caused by pressure of the fiber against the tube (both applications, macro- as see well Figure as microbending) 9. while still being fully compatible with.65.d fibres, see Figure, see Figure 8. fibers can be used for a wide range of applications, ranging from access networks, demanding cable st fiber-to-the-antenna cables. A very special application for.657 fiber cable is high optical power distri Central Offices patch cords (like Raman gain application, extensive DWDM or high power video overlay stripped off from the fiber core under fiber bending, will be absorbed in the coating. At higher powers lead to overheating of the coating and in extreme situations to catastrophic failures of the coating, like Figure 9: Left: Figure From 9: Left: experimental From experimental test data test at data 1360nm, at Maximum nm Maximum Safe Safe Powers for 5-year life lifetime are are calculated calculated as a Figure function 8: Temperature of bend cycle radius, test for demanding as enabling a function loose a tube of safe bend cable coating radius, using.65.d temperature enabling and.657.a a safe of coating fiber. 80 C for temperature four single-mode of ~80 C for fiber four (sub-) categories: A (.65.D), The B.657.A (.657.A1), single-mode fiber shows C strongly (.657.A) fibre (sub-) improved and categories: performance D (.657.B3). A [7]. (.65.D), B (.657.A1), C (.657.A) and D (.657.B3). rder to overcome Middle such and bending right: effects, Extrapolated Right: Extrapolated in 006 a new Maximum Maximum category of bending-improved Safe Powers Safe Powers for for single-mode 5-year year fibers lifetime time has at at 1550nm & 165 165nm. [8]. [8] n standardized by ITU:.657 fibres, of which sub-category.657.a fibers offer the lowest bending losses Such.657.A fibres can also quite easily be used with reduced coating protection, e.g. 00μm coating diameter. h macro- as well as microbending) while still being fully compatible with.65.d fibres, see Figure 8. These 6 rs can be used for Reducing a wide range the of applications, coating diameter ranging from usually access increases networks, the demanding fiber sensitivity cable structures for to microbending. However, in 00μm coated r-to-the-antenna cables..657.a A very fibers special the application microbending for.657 sensitivity fiber cable is is high still optical acceptable power distribution, (comparable e.g. in to that for 50μm coated.65.d

Such.657.A fibres can also quite easily be used with reduced coating protection, e.g. 00μm coating diameter. Reducing the coating diameter usually increases the fiber sensitivity for microbending. However, in 00μm coated.657.a fibers the microbending sensitivity is still acceptable (comparable to that for 50μm coated.65.d fiber), see Figure 10, offering the interesting possibility of strongly reducing cable diameters, especially for high fiber count cables and microduct cable. Figure 10: Micro-bending loss (sandpaper test method) for different bend-optimized.657 fiber types equipped with 00μm coating diameter:.657.a1 and.657.a fiber. Reference.65.D fiber equipped with 50μm coating diameter. 00μm coated.657.a fiber shows superior behavior over 00μm coated.657.a1 fiber, comparable to 50μm coated.65.d fiber. [7] Figure 10: Microbending loss (sandpaper test method) for different bend-optimized.657 fiber types equipped with 00μm coating diameter:.657.a1 and.657.a fiber. Reference.65.D fiber equipped with 50μm coating diameter. 00μm coated.657.a fiber shows superior behavior over 00μm coated.657.a1 fiber, comparable to 50μm coated.65.d fiber [7]. References TE cable with BI-SMF 657A guarantees open window 1. R. Tkach; Scaling Optical Communications for the ext Decade 5. F. Effenberger; Progress in Optical Access Standards ; Joint and Beyond ; Bell Labs Technical J. 14, TE o. is aware 4 (February of the 010), necessity of future ITU/IEEE proof optical Workshop fiber on cable. Ethernet For that - Emerging reason all Applications TE s single-mode and fiber cables are p.3. offering an open transmission window Technologies; at 165 nm. eneva, Switzerland, September 01.. ITU-T: Handbook Optical fibers, cables and systems ; www.itu. int/dms_pub/itu-t/opb/hdb/t-hdb-out.10-009-1-pdf-e.pdf 3. D. J. Richardson,1 J. M. Fini & L. E. elson; Space-division multiplexing in optical fibers ature Photonics, Volume 7, (013) 4. D. Law; Chair IEEE 80.3 Ethernet Working roup IEEE Industry Connections Ethernet Bandwidth Assessment ; IEEE 80.3 Plenary meeting, San Diego, 19th July 01. 6. P. Fay, CRU International; Market Update on lobal Optical Cable Demand ; 6nd IWCS, ov. 10-13, 013, Charlotte, C (USA). 7. Data Prysmian roup. 8. D. Boivin et al.; Design and performances of trench-assisted.657.a&b fiber optimized towards more space savings and miniaturization of components, ; Proc. SPIE Vol. 71-18 (009). RYA CHAPPELL Ryan Chappell is global business development manager, optical cabling, at CommScope. He began in the optics industry in 1994. Ryan has held various roles with multiple companies in research and development, engineering, marketing, and sales of optical cable, optical fiber, and other components of optical cable. DAIEL DAEMS Since 1988, Daniel Daems has developed optical fiber management systems for outside plant applications. Currently Senior R&D Manager of the Fiber Optic Technology and Standards Department at CommScope in Belgium, Daniel is Chairman of IEC SC86B (Fiber optic interconnecting devices and passive components) and Convener of the Cenelec (European standards) TC86BXA W for fiber optic enclosures. www.commscope.com Visit our website or contact your local CommScope representative for more information. 015 CommScope, Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks identified by or are registered trademarks or trademarks, respectively, of CommScope, Inc. This document is for planning purposes only and is not intended to modify or supplement any specifications or warranties relating to CommScope products or services. WP-319851.1-EU (10/15)