Fibre Splicing

Fibre splicing involves the jointing of two ends of a fibre optic cable by use of specialized precision electrical equipment called a fusion splicer.

It is only through using a Fusion Splicer that the integrity of the fibre optic link can run at its optimum performance and duration.

Multimode Fibre

Most commonly comes in OM1 and OM3. OM1 has a core diameter of 62.5nm and is orange in colour. It speeds are limited and is suitable for distances up to 500m. OM3 has a small core size of 50nm and is Aqua in colour, higher speeds are achievable and distances up to 2km are possible.

Fusing splicing of Multimode fibre is done in the same manner as single mode with the use of a Fusion Splicer. The fusion splicer generates an arc between the two cable that are to be joined and then forces them together providing a very low loss compared to mechanical connectors.

Benefits are that active equipment like media converters and also cabling and connectors are cheaper being LED. Suitable for short distances and lower bandwidth applications

Single Mode Fibre

Single mode fibre is the most widely used type of optical fibre in the world. Its applications are many and diverse, from underground City to City links, Trans Atlantic submarine cables, measurements, Telecommunications, High Voltage transmission lines and processes plants, mining infrastructure, construction projects as well as solar farms and Port Facilities.

The core size is 9nm and is suitable for long distances. Typical distances range from 50 – 100km before the need of regeneration is required. With the latest DWDM technologies in Active equipment unlimited data transfer is possible. Active equipment is more expensive than Multimade due to the requirement of lasers instead of LED’s for light transfer.

Splicing of single mode fibre is done with a Core Alignment Fusion splicer like the Fujikura FSM-70S. This aligns the two fibres by injecting a light into the fibre and then align the 9nm core to each other prior to the fusing process taking place. This process can deliver near perfect undetectable splices.

Ribbon Splicing

Further developments with single mode fibre is the Ribbon Fibre, commonly used in the NBN Co around Australia. It has 12 fibres joined side by side to form a ribbon. A specialized Ribbon splicer is required to join the cables together. The Ribbon splicer is able to splice 12 fibres at the same time. Whilst economically this does sound superior except it does have higher splice losses, so generally only suitable for up to 20km. It also wastes a higher ration of fibres compared to stranded single mode fibre, as you will generally splice 12 fibres to one piece of equipment that only requires 1 fibre.

OPGW

The OPGW fibre cable is fibre cable, generally Single Mode fibre wound on a steel or alloy casing similar to high voltage power lines. The cable is strung as the highest cable on high voltage power lines for telecommunication transmission and also used by power company’s for control and monitoring of their assets. The out steel/alloy cases provides the Earthing conductor.

Special alloy joint enclosures are required to join these cables. These joint enclosures are usually in very remote and harsh environments so have to be executed in the highest standards possible. The splicing process is still done using a Core alignment fusion splicer.