An optical waveguide fiber comprising: a central segment extending radially outwardly from a centerline to a radius R 1 and having a positive relative refractive index percent,Δ 1 (r) in %, wherein the central segment has a maximum relative refractive index percent, Δ 1MAX, greater than 0.3%; an annular segment surrounding the central core region and extending to a radius R 3 and having a width W 3 and a negative relative refractive index percent, Δ 3 (r) in %, with a minimum relative refractive index percent, Δ 3MIN; and an outer annular cladding surrounding the annular region and having a relative refractive index percent, Δ c (r) in %; further comprising an intermediate annular segment extending to a radius R 2 having a width W 2 and a maximum relative refractive index Δ 2MAX, disposed between the central segment and the annular segment, wherein the intermediate annular segment surrounds and directly abuts the central segment, and wherein the annular segment surrounds and directly abuts the intermediate annular segment, wherein Δ 1MAX > 0 > Δ 3MIN; wherein |Δ 2MAX | = 0.0% for more than 90% of the radial width of the intermediate annular segment; and wherein the relative refractive index profile of the optical fiber is selected to be given by Δ 1MAX is greater than 0.3%; R 1 is between 4 and 8 μm; W 2 is between 5 and 8 μm; R 2 is between 10 and 15 μm; R 2MID is between 8 and 11 μm; R 3 is between 19 and 27 μm; Δ 3MIN is less than -0.15%; and R 3MID is between 15 and 20 μm; to provide an effective area of greater than about 75 μm 2 at a wavelength of 1550 nm, a dispersion slope of less than 0.07ps/nm 2 /km at a wavelength of 1550 nm, a zero-dispersion wavelength of less than 1350 nm, and an attenuation of less than 0.20 dB/km at a wavelength of 1550 nm, wherein the values of Δ are given by Δ% = 100x(n i 2 - n c 2)/2n i 2 where n i is the maximum refractive index in region I and n c is the refractive index in the cladding region; and wherein R 2MID is the midpoint of the intermediate annular segment and R 3MID is the midpoint of the annular segment. a central segment extending radially outwardly from a centerline to a radius R 1 and having a positive relative refractive index percent,Δ 1 (r) in %, wherein the central segment has a maximum relative refractive index percent, Δ 1MAX, greater than 0.3%; an annular segment surrounding the central core region and extending to a radius R 3 and having a width W 3 and a negative relative refractive index percent, Δ 3 (r) in %, with a minimum relative refractive index percent, Δ 3MIN; and an outer annular cladding surrounding the annular region and having a relative refractive index percent, Δ c (r) in %; further comprising an intermediate annular segment extending to a radius R 2 having a width W 2 and a maximum relative refractive index Δ 2MAX, disposed between the central segment and the annular segment, wherein the intermediate annular segment surrounds and directly abuts the central segment, and wherein the annular segment surrounds and directly abuts the intermediate annular segment, wherein Δ 1MAX > 0 > Δ 3MIN; wherein |Δ 2MAX | = 0.0% for more than 90% of the radial width of the intermediate annular segment; and wherein the relative refractive index profile of the optical fiber is selected to be given by Δ 1MAX is greater than 0.3%; R 1 is between 4 and 8 μm; W 2 is between 5 and 8 μm; R 2 is between 10 and 15 μm; R 2MID is between 8 and 11 μm; R 3 is between 19 and 27 μm; Δ 3MIN is less than -0.15%; and R 3MID is between 15 and 20 μm; to provide an effective area of greater than about 75 μm 2 at a wavelength of 1550 nm, a dispersion slope of less than 0.07ps/nm 2 /km at a wavelength of 1550 nm, a zero-dispersion wavelength of less than 1350 nm, and an attenuation of less than 0.20 dB/km at a wavelength of 1550 nm, wherein the values of Δ are given by Δ% = 100x(n i 2 - n c 2)/2n i 2 where n i is the maximum refractive index in region I and n c is the refractive index in the cladding region; and wherein R 2MID is the midpoint of the intermediate annular segment and R 3MID is the midpoint of the annular segment.