〉〉 Communications Solutions〉〉New Products

Ultra-high Fiber Count (UHFC) 6912-Fiber Cable
With 200 μm 16-Fiber Rollable Ribbon,Ribbon Fiber Mass Fusion Splicer S124M16 and Related Tools
INTRODUCTION
1.1. INTRODUCTION
Recently, the data traffic in the world is experiencing
a swift increase due to the spread of internet services andcloud applications and further capacity increase of theoptical fiber network is required. For example, by replacing the conventional 864-fiber cable with the latest 6912fiber cable, communication capability can be expanded
to 8 times, however there has been issues in the workability, that is the burden of a replacing cost and a working period being large, due to the larger working time forsplicing and the requirement of significant work such as
replacing the whole duct system depending on the outer
diameter limitation of the duct where the cable is to beinstalled.
This time, we developed an optical cable of less than
30 mm outer diameter, which assembles 6912 opticalfibers by using rollable ribbons (RR), 16-small diameter
fibers of 200 μm-outer diameter bonded at intervals(200 μm 16-fiber RR), and we confirmed it can beinstalled in an existing 1.5-inch-duct. We also developed
both the mass fusion splicer S124M16 and the related
tools which are necessary for splicing the cables. Using
the tools which are optimized for 200 μm 16-fiber RR, it ispossible to reduce 25% of splicing working hours pereach cable, and therefore contributing to the expansionof the optical network.

φ200 µm optical ﬁber
Bonding part

Figure 1 Structure of a 200 μm 16-fiber RR.

2.1.2 Cable structure
The structure of the developed 6912-fiber cable is shownin Figure 2. The 48 units of 144-fiber unit are intertwined
to construct a cable core. The cable core is wrappedaround by a water-absorbent non-woven fabric for waterproof and also covered collectively together with 2 nonmetallic strength members and 2 rip cords in black polyethylene. The locations of the rip cords are identified by
the projections on the surface of the outer sheath.

144-ﬁber bundled unit

200µm 16-ﬁber RR×9

6912-FIBERCABLE
CABLE
2.2. 6912-FIBER
2.1 Cable Structure
2.1.1 Rollable ribbon
The structure of the 200 μm 16-fiber RR used for thecable is shown in Figure 1. The RR is constructed bybonding, at intervals, 16 optical fibers which have a small
outer diameter of 200 μm. Conventionally 12-fiber RR has
been used, however 16-fiber RR can make the working
time of splicing shorter on mass fusion splicing with afusion splicer. We also colored the fibers in 16 colors which
conform to the standards of TIA (Telecommunications
Industry Association) in the US to make each fiber easily
identified. Similar to a 12-fiber RR, the high-density
assembly of the optical fibers in the cable becomes possible with a rolling form and a size reduction and a weightsaving of the cable are all achieved.

Projection
Rip cordOuter sheathStrength member
Figure 2 Structure of a 6912F cable.

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Ultra-high Fiber Count (UHFC) 6912-Fiber Cable With 200 μm 16-Fiber Rollable Ribbon, Ribbon Fiber Mass Fusion Splicer S124M16 and Related Tools

2.2 Characteristics of the Cable
The characteristics of the developed 6912-fiber cable areshown in Table 1. Good results are obtained on optical,
mechanical and environmental characteristics.

Table 1

Characteristics of the 6912F cable.

Test itemCondition

ResultAttenuation

Cut-back technique<0.30 dB/km

TensileTension: 2700 N<0.10 dB

Crush

2200 N / 100 mm, 1 min retaining<0.10 dB

Impact10 N × 1 m<0.10 dB

Repeated
bending

20 D, 10 cycles<0.10 dB

Torsion± 90 deg. / m, 3 cycles<0.10 dB

Temperature
cycling-30°
C - +70°
C, 6 hours, 3 cycles<0.15 dB

Water
penetration

Tap water, water head height 1m,10 days

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FUSIONSPLICERSPLICER AND
AND RELATED
3.3. FUSION
RELATEDTOOLSTOOLS
3.1 Fusion Splicer
The picture of the mass fusion splicer S124M16 is shownin Figure 4. We added a V-groove for 200μm 16-fiber RR
which can be exchanged by the customer, being thegreatest feature of the S124 series. It can manage various
fiber types at the site of the construction. The main specifications of the S124 series are shown in Table 2.

*Measurement wavelength: 1550 nm

2.3 Cable Installation Test
We confirmed that the developed 6912-fiber cable can beinstalled, into an existing 1.5-inch (approx. 38 mm)-innerdiameter duct, which is widely used at data centers. It
can be possible to increase further the capacity of the
optical fiber network expeditiously while the cost andtime of the new cable installation are reduced to the minimum.

Figure 4 S124M16 picture.

Table 26912-fiber cable

Figure 3 Installation demonstration.

1.5-inch-duct

Specifications of the S124 Series.
Item

Specification

Applicable fiber type

SMF, MMF, DSF, NZDSF

Corresponding cladding
diameter

125 µmCorresponding coating
diameter

200 µm - 900 µm

Optical fiber cut length

10 mmSplice loss

SMF: 0.05 dB

BatteryBuilt-in lithium ion battery

Data communication port

USB 2.0 × 2 ports(Mini B: 1 port, Standard: 1 port)

Main body dimension

179W × 246D × 131H mm

Main body weight

1.8kg(including the battery)

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Ultra-high Fiber Count (UHFC) 6912-Fiber Cable With 200 μm 16-Fiber Rollable Ribbon, Ribbon Fiber Mass Fusion Splicer S124M16 and Related Tools

3.2 Related Tools
The 200 μm-RR is thinner than the conventional ribbon
fiber and the related tools adequate to this RR require apeeling mechanism with an accuracy higher than before.
Using the heating type coating removal device (thermalstripper) S218R-200 and the fiber cleaver S326R, shownin Figure 5, which are adequate to this RR, it is possible
to achieve a workability equal to the conventional ribbon.

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CONCLUSION
4.4.CONCLUSION
The 6912-fiber cable which we developed this time hasachieved the highest world’s level in core density and its
cable outer diameter is less than 30 mm, therefore it canbe easily installed into a 1.5-inch duct. The fibers can be
identified in 16 colors.
In order to reduce the splicing working time of the RR
cable which has an increase demand, we developed themass fusion splicer S124M16 and the related tools, which
are adequate to the 200 μm 16-fiber RR. Achieving same
splicing working time as the conventional 12-fiber ribbon,
it becomes possible to reduce 25% of the splicing working hours per one cable. We will continue to further provide the necessary firmware updates and to offer adequate accessories for those splicing.
For more information, please contact
Engineering Department,
Optical Fiber & Cable Production DivisionTEL: +81-3-6281-8569 FAX: +81-3-6281-8639
https://www.furukawa.co.jp/srm/form/index.php?id=enfttx

Figure 5 S218R-200 (top), S326R (bottom) picture.

Moreover, the splicing working hours for the 200 μm
16-fiber RR which uses such tools is same as those forthe conventional 250 μm 12-fiber ribbon and 200 μm
12-fiber RR. That is, when the 6912-fiber cable is spliced,
the number of splicing is 576 times for a usage of 12-fiber
RR, however it becomes 432 times for a usage of 16-fiber
RR. Therefore it is possible to reduce 25% of the splicing
working hours per one cable.

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