Single-mode fiber: What's next?

As the demand for high-speed, reliable networks continues to grow, single-mode fiber optic cable (OS2) is becoming increasingly popular as a future-proof solution. As this trend continues, new data centers will find OS2 fiber to be a more attractive option. In this article, we will explain the advantages of single-mode fiber optic cable and discuss the emerging trends that can transform communications.

OS2 still dominates long-distance transmission

Single-mode fiber, also known as single-mode optical fiber, is a type of optical fiber that allows only one mode of light to propagate. To transmit signals through single-mode patch cords, a laser light source is usually used. Light travels through the fiber in a single mode, reflecting from the inner walls of the fiber core. The single-mode nature of the fiber ensures that the light reaches the receiving end of the fiber with minimal distortion and loss. You can click Single-mode optical fiber base: types and applications for more information.

The core of single-mode fiber glass is narrower than multi-mode. Single-mode's smaller core minimizes reflections of the light passing through, so there is less signal attenuation or strength loss. By adopting SFP+ transceivers operating at 1550nm, single-mode fiber cables can transmit signals over distances of more than 100 kilometers with almost unlimited bandwidth. Multi-mode fiber has a larger core diameter, and light can travel through multiple paths. It has more signal attenuation, so it is best suited for shorter distances, usually a maximum distance of 300m to 550m. Therefore, single-mode fiber optic cables still dominate in long-distance transmission.

What is the next trend for OS2?

Performance Enhancements

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

Looking ahead, in order to adapt to higher data rates and more challenging transmission environments, we will continue to focus on the optimization of parameters such as the bending radius of single-mode optical fibers. In addition, there is an increasing call for the development of new materials such as halide glass fibers, fluorides, and heavy metal oxides to manufacture optical fibers. The application of these new materials may provide new directions for the further development of single-mode optical fiber technology.

Integration with emerging technologies

Single-mode fiber is widely used in 5G network construction and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) solutions. It provides high transmission bandwidth and long-distance capabilities, making it suitable for large-capacity and high-speed data transmission requirements. In 5G networks, OS2 fiber is preferentially used in core networks and long-distance links, paired with 25G SFP28 optical modules, which have a transmission optical power of -7~+3dBm and a transmission distance of up to 10km. In FTTH deployments, single-mode distribution cables ensure reliable signal quality over long distances, connecting users' homes or offices to fiber-optic network infrastructure.

The aggregation and access layers of 5G networks face the challenge of limited cabling and duct resources. To address this problem, the fiber optic industry is actively developing more compact optical cables, reducing their diameter and size. Corning's SMF-28 optical fiber is a good example. Because it allows the coating thickness to be reduced by up to 45 microns. This reduces the total cable diameter from 245 microns to 200 microns, providing a solution for limited space in complex network links.

Reaching cost parity

Single-mode and multimode patch cables cost about the same, with the main difference in cabling costs being the transceiver. 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 growing demand of large data centers and advances in silicon photonics technology. Silicon photonics technology enables high-bandwidth, software-configurable access to computing and storage resources, facilitating the separation of hardware and software components in modular data centers based on software-defined infrastructure (SDI).

in conclusion

The next trends in single-mode fiber revolve around performance enhancements, integration with emerging technologies, and price parity with multimode fiber. These trends will shape the future of single-mode patch cables, ensuring it remains the solution of choice for data centers and enterprise networks. The innovation and promise of single-mode fiber technology shows its great potential in the communications sector.