Patent ID: 7024083

Claim:
An optical waveguide fiber comprising: a central core region extending radially outward from a centerline to a radius R 1 and having a positive relative refractive index percent, Δ 1 % (r) with a maximum relative refractive index percent, Δ 1,MAX , wherein Δ 1,MAX >0.6%; a first annular region surrounding the central core region and extending to a radius R 2 and having a non-negative relative refractive index percent, Δ 2 % (r), with a minimum relative refractive index percent, Δ 2,MIN ; a second annular region surrounding the first annular region and extending to a radius R 3 and having a positive relative refractive index percent, Δ 3 % (r) with a maximum relative refractive index percent, Δ 3,MAX ; and an outer annular cladding region surrounding the second annular region and having a relative refractive index percent, Δ c % (r); wherein Δ 1,MAX >Δ 3,MAX >Δ 2,MIN ≧0; wherein the relative refractive index of the optical fiber is selected to provide an effective area of greater than about 60 μm 2 at a wavelength of about 1550 nm, a dispersion slope of less than 0.06 ps/nm 2 /km at a wavelength of about 1550 nm, an attenuation at a wavelength of about 1550 nm of less than 0.22 dB/km, and a zero-dispersion wavelength of between 1380 and 1420 nm.