Global Standardization Activities

Trends in the International Standardization of Fiber
Optic Interconnecting Devices and Passive Components
Ryo Nagase†
Abstract
This article describes recent trends in the international standardization of fiber optic interconnecting
devices and passive components, which are mainly used for fiber optic telecommunication systems.

1. Introduction
Many fiber optic connectors and passive opticalcomponents are used throughout the world to construct photonic telecommunication networks. This
makes it very important to standardize the interfaces,
test and measurement procedures, and performancestandards for these optical components. This article
describes recent trends in the international standardization of fiber optic interconnecting devices and passive components mainly used for fiber optic telecommunication systems.
2. IEC
Fiber optic interconnecting device and passive
component standardization activities are dealt withby the International Electrotechnical Commission(IEC). The IEC was founded in June 1906 in London,England, and is a leading global organization that
prepares and publishes international standards for all
electrical, electronic, and related technologies. These
serve as a basis for national standardization and as
references when international tenders and contracts
are drafted. In 1948 the IEC Central Office moved
from London to Geneva, Switzerland. 63 countries
were registered as members or associate members ofIEC in 2003.
Standards are discussed by the Technical Committee (TC) and Sub-Committees (SCs), which work
under the supervision of the TC. TC86/SC86B mem† NTT Photonics Laboratories
Atsugi-shi, 243-0198 Japan
E-mail: r.nagase@aecl.ntt.co.jp

Vol. 2 No. 4 Apr. 2004

bers discuss standards related to fiber optic interconnecting devices and passive components. From 2003,
the Japanese National Committee accepted the secretariat of subcommittee 86B. Dr. Etsuji Sugita of NTT
Advanced Technology Corporation was appointed toserve as secretary.
IEC TC86/SC86B consists of four Working Groups(WGs): test and measurement procedures (WG4),reliability (WG5), fiber optic interconnecting devices(WG6), and fiber optic passive components (WG7).
Each WG consists of about 10 to 40 members. They
include 14 members from Japan. WG meetings arenormally held twice a year, one of these at the sametime as the IEC General Meeting.
The Japanese National Committee is organizedunder The Institute of Electronics, Information andCommunication Engineers (IEICE), which has astrong relationship with the Standardization Technical Committee of Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS),
which is organized under the Optoelectronic Industryand Technology Development Association (OITDA).
Figure 1 shows the relationships among these committees.
3. Fiber optic interconnecting device and passive
component standards
Standards for fiber optic interconnecting devices
and passive components are classified into those forfiber optic interconnecting devices, passive components, and test and measurement procedures. Table 1shows the project number series and their contents,
which are already established. Each project numberseries consists of general and detailed specifications.

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Global Standardization Activities

IEC Japanese National Committee(under IEICE)

IEC Technical Committee

IEC TC86 National Committee
Chairman: Professor M. Hatori(National Institute of Informatics)

IEC TC86:
Fiber optics

IEC TC86/SC86A
National Committee
Convenor: N. Uchida(Furukawa Electric)
Secretary: K. Sato (NTT)TC86/SC86A:
Fibers and cables

TC86/SC86B:
Fiber optic interconnecting
devices and passive components
Secretary: E. Sugita (NTT-AT)

TC86/SC86C:
Fiber optic systems and active
devices

IEC TC86/SC86B
National Committee
Convenor: S. Sumida (SII)
Secretary: R. Nagase (NTT)IEC TC86/SC86C
National Committee
Convenor: H. Okamura
Secretary: A. Ohki (NTT)JIS Standardization Technical Committee(under OITDA)
Fiber Optics Standardization
Committee
Optical Fiber Standardization
Committee
Optical Connector Standardization
Committee
Optical Passive Device
Standardization Committee
Optical Sub-Systems
Sub-Working Group
Optical Active Device Standardization
Committee
Optical Fiber Amplifier
Standardization Committee
Dynamic Modules
Sub-Working Group

TC86/WG4:
Fiber optic test equipment
calibration

IEC TC86/WG4National Committee

Optical Measuring Instruments
Standardization Committee

Fig. 1. Relationships among IEC Technical Committee, IEC Japanese National Committee,
and JIS Standardization Technical Committee.
Table 1. IEC project no. series.
Project no.

Contents

IEC 60869
IEC 60874
IEC 60875
IEC 60876
IEC 61073
IEC 61202
IEC 61300
IEC 61314
IEC 61753

Fiber optic attenuators
Connectors for optical fibers and cables
Fiber optic branching devices
Fiber optic switches
Splices for optical fibers and cables
Fiber optic isolators
Basic test and measurement procedures
Fiber optic fan-outs
Fiber optic interconnecting devices and passive
components performance standard
Fiber optic connector interfaces
Fiber optic filters
Fiber optic passive dispersion compensators
Reliability of fiber optic interconnecting devices
and passive components
Fiber optic circulators
Fiber optic wavelength switches
Fiber optic enclosures

IEC 61754
IEC 61977
IEC 61978
IEC 62005
IEC 62077
IEC 62099
IEC 62134

3.1 Fiber optic interconnecting devices
Fiber optic interconnecting device specifications
consist of those for fiber optic connectors, splices,fan-outs and enclosures. The first specification relating to fiber optic connectors was the sectional specification (60874 series). After that, new series, name76

ly interface standard (61754), performance standard(61753), and test and measurement procedures(61300) were established and the constituent parts ofseries 60874 were successively deleted.
The optical interface (61755) series specifications
are also discussed. They focus on fiber-to-fiber connection parameters when there are no fiber support
mechanisms or ferrule-to-ferrule connection parameters where fiber support mechanisms are included,e.g., the effects of dome offset and fiber undercut.
Table 2 shows the interface standards for fiber opticconnectors. Sixteen types of connector have alreadybeen standardized, and eight of these were developedin Japan (seven by NTT). Japanese technology is contributing greatly to the international field of fiber
optic connectors.
Although these eight types of connector were previously standardized by JIS, SC type and MU typesimplified receptacles (the latter is currently underdiscussion), to which another number has been given
by JIS, are specified by IEC as Type-SC and TypeMU, respectively.
Currently, specifications for optical interfaces,
enclosures and fiber management systems are being
actively discussed.

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Global Standardization Activities

Table 2. Fiber optic connector interface standards.
Project no.

EstablishedIEC 61754-1

Dec-96

General and guidance

IEC 61754-2

Dec-96

Type BFOC/2,5 connector family

Title

IEC 61754-3

Dec-96

Type LSA connector family

IEC 61754-4

May-00Type SC connector family

C 5973

IEC 61754-5

Dec-96

Type MT connector family

C 5981

IEC 61754-6

Aug-01

Type MU connector family

C 5983

IEC 61754-7

Nov-00Type MPO connector family

C 5982

IEC 61754-8

Oct-96

Type CF08 connector family

IEC 61754-9

Dec-96

Type DS connector family

C 5980

IEC 61754-10

Jul-00Type Mini-MPO connector family

C 5984

IEC 61754-12Aug-99

Type FS connector family

IEC 61754-13Mar-99

Type FC-PC connector family

IEC 61754-15

Sep-99Type LSH connector family

IEC 61754-16

Oct-99Type PN connector family

IEC 61754-18

Dec-01

Type MT-RJ connector family

IEC 61754-19Oct-01

Type SG connector family

IEC 61754-19

Aug-02Type LC connector family

3.2 Fiber optic passive components
In the field of fiber optic passive components, eight‘general and guidance’ standards (attenuators,branching devices, fiber optic switches, isolators, filters, passive dispersion compensators, circulators,and wavelength switches) and three performancestandards (plug style fixed attenuators, pigtailed style
fixed attenuators, and branching devices) havealready been published.
In the performance standard field, environmental
categories are specified depending on the environment in which the telecommunication equipment isinstalled. Seven types of category have already been
specified and discussed as shown in Table 3. Categories A, G, and S are only used for enclosures (fiberoptic interconnecting devices). Three performancestandards have been published in the field of passivecomponents, which includes categories U and O.
Currently, specifications for DWDM filters, fiber
optic switches, and passive dispersion compensators
are being actively discussed against the backgroundof progress on DWDM and optical cross connect
technologies.
3.3 Test and measurement procedures
Test and measurement procedures in the field offiber optic interconnecting devices and passive components are specified in the IEC 61300 series. Fortyeight test procedures (61300-2 series) and forty meaVol. 2 No. 4 Apr. 2004

JIS no.
C 5970C 5970C 5976
To be publishedTable 3. Environmental categories.
Category

Definition

CControlled environment

U

Uncontrolled environment

E

Extreme environmentO

Outside plantA

AerialG

Ground level

S

Subterraneansurement procedures (61300-3 series) have alreadybeen published. Some specifications that were published earlier are now entering their maintenancecycles, so the number of specifications is always fluid.
3.4 Reliability
The reliability of fiber optic interconnecting
devices and passive components is specified in theIEC 62005 series. The structure of the reliability
specifications consisting of ten items was fixed in thefirst stage, but discussions have been delayed becausesome key members have retired against the background of the depression in the telecommunications
field.
Currently, specifications related to the reliability offiber optic connectors and high power reliability arebeing discussed.
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Global Standardization Activities

4. Future progress
Ryo Nagase

JIS, the Japanese national standard, must harmonize with IEC specifications because of the WTO
scheme. Initially, JIS published a large number of
specifications because many products in the field offiber optic interconnecting devices and passive components were developed in Japan. Subsequently, IEC
standards were developed based on new concepts.
This has resulted in differences between JIS and IEC
standards.
Recently, harmonization with IEC is being actively
discussed in the JIS Standardization Technical Committee. However, this is proving very difficult
because the structures of the specifications differ andsome content, not specified by IEC, is used in commercial transactions in Japan.
Many members of the Japanese standardizationcommittee are pushing hard for Japanese technology
to become the global standard.

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Group Leader, Senior Research Manager, Photonics Integration Project, NTT Photonics Laboratories.
He received the B.E., M.E., and Ph.D. degrees
in precision engineering from Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan, in 1983, 1985, and 1998,
respectively. In 1985, he joined Musashino Electrical Communications Laboratories, NTT,Tokyo, Japan. He has been engaged in R&D of
optical fiber connectors. From 1998 to 2000, hejoined Global Business Division, NTT Communications Corporation. Since 2000 he joined Photonics Laboratories, NTT, and is currently
involved in R&D of the fiber management onboard technology. He is the chairman of JIS
Optical Connector Standardization Committee
and the secretary of IEC TC86/SC86B Japanese
National Committee.

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