Sumitomo Electric Lightwave announced today the introduction of a segmented ribbon design that allows 12 fiber ribbons to be easily divisible into three 4- fiber ribbon subunits without requiring tools. The ribbon design impacts the FTTH/FTTP 4-fiber branching network topologies, serving 4 homes or premises, by significantly facilitating easier, faster, and more cost-effective deployment.
The 3×4-fiber modular ribbon, which is being incorporated into Sumitomo’s ribbon cable product line, can be used throughout the feeder, distribution, and drop segments of the FTTH/FTTP network. Rather than splicing one single optical fiber at a time, installers can now easily branch off 4 fibers originating from the hub, terminal or closure to quickly and easily mass splice to an existing 4-fiber ribbon cable or pre-connectorized fanout. The new 3×4-fiber ribbon design increases time savings by over 50% since advancements in mass fusion splicing technology make it possible to splice multiple fiber ribbons almost as quickly as a single fiber, while maintaining comparable splice loss.
Having been the first company to introduce peelable ribbon to North America, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave has utilized its proprietary control process and Easy Split & Peel technology to develop the fully encapsulated 3×4-fiber ribbon matrix in which each set of 4 fibers is constructed into an easily splittable and peelable ribbon. Sumitomo’s exclusive technology makes its ribbon the only product in the industry designed to allow easy splitting of the ribbon fiber without the need of any tools. Because each 4-fiber subunit is completely encapsulated, the fiber coating is protected, thereby guarding against fiber damage, mechanical abrasions, and shearing of fibers during splitting. The ribbon design also allows the installer to quickly and easily peel back the ribbon, by hand, to expose the underlying fiber in preparation for connectorization or splicing.
The same technology has been used for Sumitomo’s existing 24 and 36 fiber ribbon portfolio in which 12 fibers can be segmented into 2 or 3 ribbon subunits respectively in preparation for cost effective mass fusion splicing. Sumitomo has also recently introduced its TomCat™ handheld 4-fiber mass splicer and FC-7 handheld 1-step fiber cleaver that complements the new 4-fiber ribbon for maximum efficiency and cost savings in FTTx applications.
“Sumitomo’s expertise and leadership in ribbon fiber control processes and manufacturing has led us to the development of an outstanding ribbon design that will help our customers deploy their FTTH/FTTP network more efficiently and cost effectively, ” comments Gary Bishop, director of product management at Sumitomo Electric Lightwave.
Sumitomo’s 3×4-fiber ribbon is compatible with existing 12-fiber ribbon, conventional mass fusion splicers, protective sleeves, splice enclosures, and ribbon connectors. The company expects to incorporate the 3×4-fiber ribbon design into its complete ribbon cable product line by early fourth quarter of this year.
