An optical waveguide fiber comprising: (i) a Ge free core having an effective area of 100 μm2 to 160 μm 2, at a 1550 nm wavelength, and an alpha value 12 < α < 200, said core comprising: (a) a central core region extending radially outwardly from a centerline to a radius r o, and having a relative refractive index percent profile Δ 0 (r) in % measured relative to pure silica, wherein -0.1 % < Δ o (r) < 0.1 %, wherein the central core region has a maximum relative refractive index percent, Δ OMAX; (b) a first annular core region surrounding and directly adjacent to the central core region and extending to an outer radius r 1 wherein 4.8 μm <r 1 < 10 μm, and having a relative refractive index percent profile, Δ 1 (r) in % measured relative to pure silica, and a minimum relative refractive index, Δ r1min, and the relative refractive index measured at a radius r = 2.5 μm being: − 0.15 < Δ 1 r = 2.5 μm < 0 and Δ 0 MAX ≥ Δ 1 r = 2.5 μm; (c) a fluorine doped second annular region surrounding and directly adjacent to the first annular core region and extending to a radius 13 μm <r 2 < 30 μm and having a negative relative refractive index percent profile, Δ 2 (r) in %, measured relative to pure silica, with a minimum relative refractive index percent Δ 2MN being: Δ 2 MIN < Δ 1 r = 2.5 μm and − 0.5 % < Δ 2 MIN < − 0.27 %; (ii) a cladding surrounding the core and having a relative refractive index percent Δ 3 (r) in % measured relative to pure silica, and Δ 3 (r) = A 2MIN ± 0.3 %; wherein the relative refractive index profile of the optical fiber is selected to provide attenuation of no more than 0.175 dB/km at the 1550 nm wavelength; and said fiber further comprising: (a) a primary coating having a Young's modulus of less than 1.0 Mpa; (b) a secondary coating having a Young's modulus of greater than 1200 Mpa; and wherein said fiber has an effective area greater than 115 μm 2. (i) a Ge free core having an effective area of 100 μm2 to 160 μm 2, at a 1550 nm wavelength, and an alpha value 12 < α < 200, said core comprising: (a) a central core region extending radially outwardly from a centerline to a radius r o, and having a relative refractive index percent profile Δ 0 (r) in % measured relative to pure silica, wherein -0.1 % < Δ o (r) < 0.1 %, wherein the central core region has a maximum relative refractive index percent, Δ OMAX; (b) a first annular core region surrounding and directly adjacent to the central core region and extending to an outer radius r 1 wherein 4.8 μm <r 1 < 10 μm, and having a relative refractive index percent profile, Δ 1 (r) in % measured relative to pure silica, and a minimum relative refractive index, Δ r1min, and the relative refractive index measured at a radius r = 2.5 μm being: − 0.15 < Δ 1 r = 2.5 μm < 0 and Δ 0 MAX ≥ Δ 1 r = 2.5 μm; (c) a fluorine doped second annular region surrounding and directly adjacent to the first annular core region and extending to a radius 13 μm <r 2 < 30 μm and having a negative relative refractive index percent profile, Δ 2 (r) in %, measured relative to pure silica, with a minimum relative refractive index percent Δ 2MN being: Δ 2 MIN < Δ 1 r = 2.5 μm and − 0.5 % < Δ 2 MIN < − 0.27 %; (a) a central core region extending radially outwardly from a centerline to a radius r o, and having a relative refractive index percent profile Δ 0 (r) in % measured relative to pure silica, wherein -0.1 % < Δ o (r) < 0.1 %, wherein the central core region has a maximum relative refractive index percent, Δ OMAX; (b) a first annular core region surrounding and directly adjacent to the central core region and extending to an outer radius r 1 wherein 4.8 μm <r 1 < 10 μm, and having a relative refractive index percent profile, Δ 1 (r) in % measured relative to pure silica, and a minimum relative refractive index, Δ r1min, and the relative refractive index measured at a radius r = 2.5 μm being: − 0.15 < Δ 1 r = 2.5 μm < 0 and Δ 0 MAX ≥ Δ 1 r = 2.5 μm; (c) a fluorine doped second annular region surrounding and directly adjacent to the first annular core region and extending to a radius 13 μm <r 2 < 30 μm and having a negative relative refractive index percent profile, Δ 2 (r) in %, measured relative to pure silica, with a minimum relative refractive index percent Δ 2MN being: Δ 2 MIN < Δ 1 r = 2.5 μm and − 0.5 % < Δ 2 MIN < − 0.27 %; (ii) a cladding surrounding the core and having a relative refractive index percent Δ 3 (r) in % measured relative to pure silica, and Δ 3 (r) = A 2MIN ± 0.3 %; wherein the relative refractive index profile of the optical fiber is selected to provide attenuation of no more than 0.175 dB/km at the 1550 nm wavelength; and said fiber further comprising: (a) a primary coating having a Young's modulus of less than 1.0 Mpa; (b) a secondary coating having a Young's modulus of greater than 1200 Mpa; and wherein said fiber has an effective area greater than 115 μm 2. (a) a primary coating having a Young's modulus of less than 1.0 Mpa; (b) a secondary coating having a Young's modulus of greater than 1200 Mpa; and wherein said fiber has an effective area greater than 115 μm 2.