Resource Center
Join DSM at FTTH 2010 in Las Vegas - Booth 612
2010-August 25
Elgin, IL U.S.A. -- DeSolite Supercoatings™ comprise a premier class of fiber coatings designed for “future-proofing” today’s optical fiber networks with low microbending attenuation performance. Visit DSM at this year’s FTTH show in Las Vegas, NV (September 13-15) to learn how this latest-generation technology is improving the economic viability of FTTx in Europe—enabling a reduction in fiber coating thicknesses that can increase compact cable fiber count by more than 30%. This can reduce operator investment costs, accelerate payback time, and potentially increase ROI by as much as 30%.
Telcordia GR-20-ILR Issues List Report Notes Measurement of Microbending-Induced Attenuation Loss Warrants a Closer Look
2010-June 30
Elgin, IL U.S.A. -- In their recently published GR-20-ILR, Issue 3A, Generic Requirements for Optical Fiber and Optical Fiber Cable Issues List Report, Telcordia Technologies has noted that “recent developments in optical fiber coating technologies have led to optical fiber products with superior transmission performance at low temperatures. Microbending-induced transmission loss performance standard and test methods for screening optical fibers for propensity to thermally induced microbending are of industry interest.”
The report notes that, in the 1990s, North American standards development organization TIA, as well as the IEC, made efforts to develop standard test methods for measurement of microbending-induced attenuation. It proposes that methods described in IEC TR 62221 be re-evaluated along with recently available results from microbending-induced
attenuation measurements conducted on optical fiber products with the latest generation fiber coatings that exhibit superior low temperature performance.
The GR-20-ILR, Issue 3A, Issues List Report is a companion document to GR-20-CORE, Issue 3. It does not replace GR-20, Issue 3, but discusses some open technical issues that have been realized since Issue 3 was published in May 2008. These open issues may be addressed in Issue 4 of GR-20.
"Designed for the Future" Roundtable to Focus on Fiber Deployment in MDUs
2010-April 27
Elgin, IL U.S.A. -- DSM hosted its "Designed for the Future" Executive Roundtable on Tuesday, April 27 2010, in conjunction with the 2010 Broadband Properties Summit in Dallas. In the spirit of this year’s Summit, the Roundtable theme was "Fiber All The Way: The Next Frontier." It was a highly meaningful discussion of the business and technology challenges faced today in delivering broadband services in the MDU environment, and the innovation we’ll need to deliver tomorrow’s services. A full report will be published soon.
Is Europe Seeing the Light? - FTTH Europe 2010 “Networked for the Future” Roundtable Summary
2010-February 26
Elgin, IL U.S.A. -- With business, regulatory and technological developments beginning to align, the prospects for large scale deployments of Fiber-to-the-Home in Europe are encouraging, say delegates at DSM Desotech’s Networked for the Future Roundtable discussion at FTTH Europe conference in Lisbon.
FTTH 2009 Designed for the Future Executive Roundtable
2009-October 5
Elgin, IL U.S.A. -- On Tuesday, September 29, 2009 approximately 30 industry executives gathered to discuss the current state of fiber-optic broadband networks and the challenges and opportunities for the industry as it strives to meet the impending tsunami of bandwidth demand. Entitled Designed for the Future, the roundtable discussion addressed pressing industry topics such as government’s role in ensuring access and network sustainability, the ability of incumbent networks to support future bandwidth demand, what is and will be that demand, and the risks associated with not embracing industry standards.
Participants included executives from various industry organizations, representing carriers, infrastructure vendors, network service providers, fiber optic cable and optical fiber makers, industry association leaders, academics and media. Participating organizations included ADC, Adtran, AT&T, Broadband Properties, Calient Networks, Cisco, Corning, Draka, FTTH Council, Graybar, Light Brigade, Lightwave, Optical Society of America (OFC/NFOEC), Sigma Technologies, Telcordia, Tellabs and Verizon...
DSM and Telcordia Partner with FTTH Council to Raise Awareness of Performance Issues in Optical Fiber
2009-September 14
Elgin, IL U.S.A. -- A highly-engaged group representing carriers, equipment manufacturers, consultants, optical fiber manufacturers and public utilities participated in the January FTTH Council Webinar: Driving the New Optical Future How Standards can help Fiber gain Critical Mass in 2010, Sponsored by DSM Desotech and Telcordia. Among the most popular and provocative topics discussed was the performance problems created by microbending in optical fiber and the urgent need for standards in microbending performance.
A Brief History of Fiber Coating Systems
First Generation Coating Systems
In the 1970’s, lacquers and thermally-cured silicone coating systems were first used to produce optical fiber, but resulted in slow production speeds and poor fiber strength. Initial experimentation with UV-curable fiber coatings was conducted in the mid-1970s. In 1977, DSM Desotech (then DeSoto) invited several fiber manufacturers to its research center to discuss the possibility of new development programs.
One year later, DeSolite® UV-curable fiber coatings were being used commercially by several leading U.S. fiber manufacturers. From 1978 until mid-1980s, DSM made continuous improvements to the curing rate of DeSolite® coatings, which led to significant improvements in draw speed (from 1-2 meters per second to 12-15 meters per second).
Second Generation Coating Systems
Development of second generation coatings began in the mid-1980s, with the introduction of higher-count ribbon cables for subscriber loop applications. Performance requirements of optical fiber coatings became more complex as fibers were exposed to harsher environments and required optimization for:
- Improved strippability
- Reduced sensitivity to chemicals, heat, humidity and moisture
- Improved microbend performance
- Greater durability and fatigue resistance
The ongoing challenge was to increase fiber draw speeds to improve productivity for fiber producers while still maintaining microbend performance.
TODAY: DeSolite Supercoatings™
In 2008, DSM commercialized the third generation of fiber coatings designed for improved microbend sensitivity, even at high processing speeds.
DeSolite Supercoatings™ show better performance on both standard fiber and new bend-resistant fiber and have mechanical properties that can help prevent signal loss, as well as give fiber longer life and more reliable field performance. DeSolite Supercoatings™ are 90% less sensitive to microbending attenuation in basket-weave temperature cycling tests (-40°C to 70°C).
DSM’s newest generation materials are helping fiber networks carry signal more reliably, with less interruption or distortion. As signal reliability increases, so does the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the overall network. Industry leaders are already recognizing this and converting to DeSolite Supercoatings™ systems to protect their network investments.
Mitigating Microbending to Prevent Signal Loss
Among all of the performance risk factors today’s fiber optic network operators must address, microbending within optical fiber presents an ongoing challenge.
Microbending occurs when random bends occur in places where the fiber axis has very small deformations and can cause attenuation and ultimately signal transmission losses.
Microbending attenuation losses arise from distortions of the fiber axis that can result from non-uniform external forces, such as a fiber being forced onto cabling materials, fiber-to-fiber contacting points, or fiber being pressed on any rough surface.
The global trend in fiber coating innovation is to improve microbending performance without sacrificing production line speeds and to minimize signal attenuation over wider temperature extremes. DSM is the only Fiber Optic Materials supplier to provide next-generation UV-curable fiber coatings with the best microbending reduction technology for reliable, long-term network performance.
DSM’s DeSolite Supercoatings™ coatings deliver the following benefits for fiber optic cable manufacturers and network owners:
- Maximized utilization of fiber drawing and cabling assets
- Meeting of network owners’ increasing bandwidth requirements for mass fiber deployment
- Differentiation through improved power budget performance
- Minimized fiber attenuation, even at high processing speeds and over broader temperature extremes
- Increased manufacturing and installation tolerances via increased abuse tolerance of fiber