Patent ID: 8798417

Claim:
A fiber optic cable, comprising: core elements stranded around a central strength member in a pattern of stranding including reversals in lay direction of the core elements, the core elements comprising: a buffer tube surrounding optical fibers; and one or more additional core elements, comprising at least one of: a filler rod, and an additional buffer tube; a binder film surrounding the stranded core elements, wherein the binder film is continuous peripherally around the core elements, forming a continuous closed loop when viewed in cross-section, and continuous lengthwise along a length of the cable that is at least 10 meters, wherein the binder film is 0.5 millimeters or less in thickness, wherein the binder film is in radial tension and opposes outwardly transverse deflection of the core elements, and wherein the binder film loads the core elements normally to the central strength member such that contact between the core elements and central strength member provides coupling therebetween, thereby limiting axial migration of the core elements relative to the central strength member; and a jacket surrounding the binder film, wherein the jacket is at least five times thicker than the binder film.