Single Mode Fiber: What Is the Next Trend?

With the ever-increasing demand for high-speed and reliable networking, single-mode fiber optic cable (OS2) is gaining popularity as a future-proof solution. As this trend continues, new data centers will find OS2 optical fiber a more enticing option. In this article, we will explain the benefits of single mode fiber cable and discuss its emerging trends that can change communication.

OS2 Still Dominate Long-Distance Transmission

Single-mode fiber, also known as monomode fiber, is a type of optical fiber that allows only one mode of light to propagate. To transmit signals through single mode patch cable, a laser light source is commonly used. The light travels through the fiber in a single mode, bouncing off the inner walls of the core. The single-mode nature of the fiber ensures that the light arrives at the receiving end of the fiber with minimal distortion and loss. You could click Single Mode Fiber Wiki: Concerning Types and Applications for more information.

Single-mode fiber optic glass has a narrower core than multimode. Single mode’s smaller core minimizes the reflection of light passing through, so there is less signal attenuation or loss of strength. By employing SFP+ transceivers operating at 1550nm, single-mode fiber cables can transmit signals over distances exceeding 100km and with virtually unlimited bandwidth. Multimode fiber has a much larger core diameter and light travels multiple paths through it. It has more signal attenuation and thus is best for shorter distances, typically a maximum of 300m to 550m. Therefore, single-mode fiber optic cables still dominate long-distance transmission.

What is the Next Trend of OS2?

Performance Enhancement

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has been continuously improving the industry standards for OS2 optical fiber, evolving from G.652 fiber to G.657 fiber. These standards, such as G.657.A1/A2/B2/B3, aim to optimize the bend-insensitive properties of single-mode patch cords, meeting the complex connectivity requirements in 5G and other demanding scenarios where space is limited or sharp bends in wiring are required.

Looking ahead, to accommodate higher data rates and more challenging transmission environments, there will be a continual focus on optimizing parameters like bending radius for single-mode fiber. Additionally, there is a growing exploration of new materials such as halide glass fibers, fluorides, and heavy metal oxides to make optical fibers. The application of these new materials may provide new directions for the further development of single-mode fiber technology.

Integration with Emerging Technologies

Single-mode optical fiber is extensively used in the construction of 5G networks, as well as in Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) solutions. It offers high transmission bandwidth and long-distance capabilities, making it suitable for large-capacity and high-speed data transmission requirements. In 5G networks, OS2 optical fiber is preferred for core networks and long-distance links, paired with 25G SFP28 optical module, which has a transmit optical power of -7~+3dBm and a transmission distance of up to 10km. While in FTTH deployments, single-mode patch cables ensure reliable signal quality over long distances to connect users' homes or offices to the fiber optic network infrastructure.

The aggregation and access layers of 5G networks face challenges regarding limited cabling and pipeline resources. The optical fiber industry is actively developing more compact fiber cables by reducing their diameter and size to address this. Corning's SMF-28 fiber is a fine example to be included here. As it allows for a reduction of up to 45 microns in coating thickness. This enables a decrease in overall cable diameter to 200 microns from 245 microns, providing a solution for the limited space in complex network links.

Reaching Cost Parity

Single mode patch cords and multimode patch cords cost about the same, with the main difference in cabling costs being the transceivers. On average, single mode transceivers still cost 1.5 to 4-5 times more than multimode transceivers, depending on the data rate. However, experts predict that the price difference between single mode and multimode transceivers will gradually narrow in the coming years. This convergence is attributed to the increasing demand from large-scale data centers and the advancement of silicon photonics technology. Silicon photonics enables high-bandwidth, software-configurable access to computing and storage resources, facilitating the separation of hardware and software components in modular data centers built on a software-defined infrastructure (SDI).

Conclusion

The next trends in single-mode fiber revolve around performance enhancement, integration with emerging technologies, and reaching cost parity with multimode fiber. These trends will shape the future of single-mode patch cable, ensuring it becomes the solution of choice for data centers and enterprise networks. The innovation and prospects of single-mode fiber technology show its huge potential in the field of communications.