An Enhanced Ribbon Structure for High Fiber Count Cables in the Loop

Single-mode lightguide installations in the loop and in metropolitan area networks require high fiber count cables that can be placed, spliced, and reconfigured simply and rapidly. We describe the design, process and performance characteristics of a new compact ribbon structure that meets the critical functional requirements of the loop environment. The new ribbon structure is an enhanced evolution of the Adhesive Sandwich Ribbon (ASR) technology first introduced by AT&T in the Chicago Lightwave Communication Project in 1977.