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HOME » News / Blog » Optical Communication » FTTH Drop Cables | Indoor & Outdoor Fiber Drop Solutions

FTTH Drop Cables | Indoor & Outdoor Fiber Drop Solutions

Author: James     Publish Time: 14-11-2025      Origin: Site

In any FTTH (Fiber to the Home) network, the drop cable is the final and most critical part of the optical access network. It connects the outdoor distribution point to the customer premises and directly affects installation speed, service quality, and long-term reliability.

Based on industry best practices (including FOA guidelines) and ZION COMMUNICATION’s experience as a professional fiber optic cable manufacturer, this page explains what FTTH drop cables are, which types ZION offers, and how to choose and install the right solution for your project.


 What Is an FTTH Drop Cable?

In a standard ODN (Optical Distribution Network), the fiber route is usually divided into:

  • Feeder cable – from the central office / OLT area to distribution points

  • Distribution cable – from distribution points to access or branch points

  • Drop cable – from the access/branch point to the subscriber (home, office, shop)

The drop cable is responsible for the “last mile” connection between the network and the ONT inside the building. It must combine:

  • High mechanical strength for outdoor and façade use

  • High flexibility for indoor routing around corners, doors, and furniture

  • Easy and fast installation, often with pre-terminated connectors

  • Excellent optical performance, even in tight bends

All ZION FTTH drop cables are available with G.657.A2 or G.657.B3 bend-insensitive fibers to keep losses low in real installation environments.


 ZION FTTH Drop Cable Portfolio Overview

ZION COMMUNICATION offers a complete range of FTTH drop cables for:

  • Indoor applications (corridors, risers, rooms, apartments)

  • Outdoor applications (aerial, façade, duct, direct-buried)

  • Outdoor-to-indoor transitions (black outdoor section + white indoor section)

  • Pre-terminated solutions with factory-installed connectors

  • Custom OEM/ODM solutions (fiber type, length, jacket, connector)

Typical ZION FTTH drop cable families include:


 Indoor FTTH Drop Cables

Indoor drop cables are designed for building entry, riser, and room-level wiring. They prioritize flexibility, small size, and aesthetics while still maintaining good mechanical strength and fire performance.

Flat Indoor Drop Cables (GJXFH / GJXH Series)

GJXFH-FTTH Flat Drop Cable 2.0×3.0mm

Structure:

  • 1, 2, or 4 fibers

  • Two parallel FRP strength members

  • Flat LSZH jacket (often white for better interior appearance)

Benefits:

  • Easy to route along walls, ceilings, and corners

  • Simple to fix with clips or adhesive raceways

  • Easy to strip and terminate

  • Ideal for MDU corridors and in-home wiring

Typical applications:

  • FTTH in corridors and apartments

  • Direct connection from floor distributor to ONT

  • Indoor subscriber drop in residential and commercial buildings


Round Indoor Cables (GYFJU Series)

GYFJU Aramid Yarn Strength Round Sheath LSZH Drop cable

Structure:

  • Simplex or duplex tight-buffered fibers

  • Flexible non-metallic strength members

  • Round LSZH jacket

Benefits:

  • Very flexible and easy to handle

  • Compatible with standard indoor patching and pigtail processes

  • Suitable for pre-terminated indoor assemblies

Typical applications:

  • Indoor jumper between wall outlet and ONT

  • Indoor connection in small offices and data rooms

  • Pigtails and patch cords in FTTH environments


Invisible / Transparent Drop Cable (Future Option)

G.652.D and G.657.A1 Fibers

ZION can also support transparent or “invisible” indoor drop cable concepts using G.657.B3 fibers for ultra-small bend radius.

  • Benefits:

  • Blends into the interior decoration

  • Ideal for high-end apartments and hotels where visible cabling is not acceptable


 Outdoor FTTH Drop Cables

Outdoor drop cables must withstand UV, temperature variations, wind, rain, and potential mechanical impacts. ZION outdoor drop cables offer robust designs for reliable performance in harsh environments.

Self-Supporting Aerial Drop Cables (Figure-8 / GYFXBY Type)

GYFXBY Flat-shape & Self-supporting Uni-tube Fiber Optic Cable

Structure:

  • Central loose tube with fibers

  • Parallel FRP or metallic strength members

  • Additional self-supporting messenger (Figure-8 design)

  • Black PE outer jacket with UV resistance

Benefits:

  • High tensile strength for pole-to-pole spans

  • Ideal for rural and suburban aerial FTTH routes

  • Stable performance under wind and ice loading

Typical applications:

  • Aerial FTTH deployments in villages and suburbs

  • Pole-mounted last-mile connections

  • Long-span drop from distribution point to house


Outdoor Round Drop Cables (GJYXCH / GJYXFCH, etc.)

GJYXCH-FTTH Drop Cable 2


Structure:

  • Fibers with water-blocking design

  • Non-metallic or metallic strength members

  • Black PE jacket for UV and weather resistance

Benefits:

  • Suitable for façade mounting, duct, or micro-duct use

  • Can be pre-terminated for plug-and-play installation

  • Good mechanical protection with compact size

Typical applications:

  • Outdoor façade routing along building walls

  • Short duct runs between access point and building entry

  • Outdoor-to-indoor transition zones


Direct-Buried Drop Cables

GYGXY Uni-tube Non-metallic Glass Yarns Tapes Armored HDPE Sheath Drop cable

For some residential areas, small compounds, or campuses, shallow direct burial can be the most practical option.

Features:

  • Optional metallic armor or special reinforcement

  • Extra protection against soil pressure and rodents

  • Moisture-resistant construction

Typical applications:

  • Direct-buried drop in gardens, yards, and internal roads

  • Campus or villa FTTH connections


 Pre-Terminated vs. Spliced Drop Cables

ZION COMMUNICATION supports both pre-terminated and standard (splice-required) drop cable solutions.

Pre-Terminated Drop Cables

Drop Fiber Optic Cable Patch Cord SC UPC to SC UPC Simplex G.657.A1 or A2 Single Mode LSZH 2.0X5.0mm

Drop cables with factory-installed connectors (e.g., SC/APC, LC/APC, FC, etc.) on one or both ends.

Advantages:

  • Much faster installation – no splicing on site

  • Factory-controlled polishing and performance

  • Reduced need for specialized tools and training

  • Lower risk of contamination and human error

Best for:

  • Mass FTTH rollouts with tight deadlines

  • Contractors or ISPs who want to minimize field work

  • Projects where access time to customer premises is limited


Standard Drop Cables with Fusion Splicing

For maximum flexibility in length and routing, standard drop cables can be cut and fusion-spliced to pigtails or distribution fibers.

Advantages:

  • Flexible length management on site

  • Lower material cost for some deployments

  • Optimal performance when splicing is done correctly

Note:
While mechanical splices are possible, fusion splicing is recommended for long-term stability, lower attenuation, and better reflectance performance.


 Drop Cable Installation Methods

ZION FTTH drop cables support all typical installation methods used in modern ODN networks:

  • Aerial Installation
    Using self-supporting Figure-8 or reinforced designs
    Secured with appropriate clamps and hardware
    Common in rural and suburban projects

  • Duct and Micro-Duct Installation
    Using round cables suitable for pulling or blowing
    Protects the drop cable in urban areas or along roads

  • Façade and Wall Mounting
    Black PE outdoor cable on the exterior
    Transition to white LSZH indoor cable at building entry
    Balances environmental protection with interior aesthetics

  • Indoor Routing
    Use flat or round LSZH indoor drop cables
    Observe minimum bend radius (G.657.A2/B3 fiber simplifies this significantly)
    Route along walls, corners, and ceilings in a clean and professional way


 Why Choose ZION COMMUNICATION FTTH Drop Cables?

  1. Complete Product Range
    From outdoor aerial to indoor room wiring, from duct to direct buried, ZION offers a full FTTH drop cable solution set.

  2. Bend-Insensitive Fiber (G.657.A2/B3)
    Designed for tight indoor routing and compact ONU/ONT environments with low bending loss.

  3. High Reliability & Compliance
    ZION FTTH drop cables are designed and tested according to international standards such as IEC 60794, with options for CPR, RoHS, and REACH compliance to meet global project requirements.

  4. Strong Compatibility
    Fully compatible with mainstream ODN components: splitters, closures, distribution boxes, and ONTs from major vendors.

  5. OEM / ODM Support
    Fiber type, fiber count, jacket material and color, print legends, and connector types can all be customized to your project or brand.

  6. Cost-Effective and Installer-Friendly
    Optimized designs and reliable pre-terminated options help reduce installation time, labor costs, and maintenance needs over the lifetime of the network.


 Work with ZION COMMUNICATION on Your Next FTTH Project

ZION COMMUNICATION combines:

  • Professional FTTH drop cable design and manufacturing

  • Flexible customization capabilities

  • Global export experience across telecom operators, ISPs, and system integrators

Whether you are deploying FTTH in rural villages, urban MDUs, or greenfield residential communities, ZION can provide the right drop cable products, documentation, and technical support to make your last-mile fiber rollout faster and more reliable.

Contact us to discuss your FTTH drop cable requirements or request detailed datasheets for GJXFH, GJXH, GYFJU, GYFXBY, GJYXCH and other ZION FTTH cable models.


Contact us for more information

James Zion



James is a technical manager and associate at Zion Communication. 

Specializes in Optical Fiber communications,  FTTH Solutions, 

Fiber optic cables,  ADSS cable, and ODN networks.

james@zion-communication.com

+86 13777460328



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