Fiber Optic Cable Standards for FTTH and Telecom Projects | Zion Communication

■ Fiber Optic Cable Standards Organizations: 

An Overview Fiber Optic Cable Specifications and Standards by the Important Organizations Around the World  

Fiber optic cables must get their due credit, for they are the foundation of the modern telecommunication system, which allows signal transmission at a high speed, including, but not limited to, within the cities, countries, and continents. Among the various aspects of the cabling systems are performance, compatibility, safety, and quality standards. For this reason, a number of international and national organizations have developed technical standards for fiber optic cables.

This article claims to delve into the significant fiber optic cable standards organizations, their functions, and the major standards that they publish. Whether it is a telecom operator, a system integrator, and the fiber optic cable manufacturer, it is this understanding of these standards that determine project success and international compliance.

■ The IEC – International Electrotechnical Commission 

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland. 

Scope: Basic electrical standards and those of the electronic kind, while fiber optic cables are those made of glass.

IEC is among the world's most reputable organizations with respect to electrotechnology. The IEC 60794 series provides all the general definitions and methods for testing fiber optic cables, covering the specifications for indoor, outdoor, aerial, duct, and direct-buried applications.

Key Standards: 

• IEC 60794-1-1 to 850.1 General specifications 

• IEC 60794-2, 3, 4: For different cable applications 

• IEC 60332: Flame-retardant testing for cables 

• IEC standards are the ones accepted in international trade and also tomorrow's OEM and government projects.

Official Website: https://www.iec.ch

Standards Info: https://www.iec.ch/standards

■ The ITU-T – International Telecommunication Union (Telecommunication Standardization Sector) 

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland. 

Scope: Communication networks, including optical fiber types.

Procedures are such that ITU-T is a platform for formulating international telecommunication networks standards. In the field of fiber optics, it creates key optical fiber types classifications for the backbone, access, and FTTH.

Key Standards: 

• G.652: Standard single-mode fiber 

• G.655: Non-zero dispersion-shifted fiber 

• G.657: Bend-insensitive fiber with reduced bend losses

ITU-T specifications are to most telecoms operators in their network planning and equipment selection worldwide.

Main Website: https://www.itu.int 

ITU-T Standards Section: https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T 

Free access to recommendations: https://www.itu.int/en/publications/ITU-T

■ TIA/EIA – Telecommunications Industry Association / Electronic Industries Alliance 

Region: North America 

Scope: Telecommunications cabling systems

TIA, the former partner of EIA, participates in the agreement-making process on widely used standards for structured cabling systems commonly used in commercial buildings and enterprise environments.

Key Standards: 

• TIA-568 series: Requirements of structured cabling systems using both copper and fiber optic cabling 

• TIA-598: Indication of color codes while using fiber optic cables 

• TIA-942: Data center cabling design 

The LAN design, building infrastructure, and ICT integration all indicate that the TIA is indispensable.

TIA Official Website: https://www.tiaonline.org

Standards Search Portal: https://standards.tiaonline.org

Note: EIA has been dissolved since 2011. Relevant standards are now maintained by TIA and ANSI.

■ Telcordia (Formerly Bellcore) 

Now owned by: Ericsson 

Scope: Specific telecom carriers (especially in North America) compliance criteria.

Telcordia GR (Generic Requirements) standards of performance and reliability requirements are published in the series, profoundly used by U.S. telecom operators.

Key Standards: 

• GR-20: Generic requirements for optical fiber and fiber optic cables 

• GR-409: Indoor optical fiber cables

This is frequently specified in tender documents or setting criteria of qualifying tests for telecom operators in the United States.

Telcordia Standards Portal: https://telecom-info.njdepot.ericsson.net/site-cgi/ido/docs.cgi

Ericsson Main Website: https://www.ericsson.com

■ YD/T and GB – National and Industrial Standards

Published by: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) 

Scope: Regional technical standards for both fiber optic cables and systems.

In China's respective telecom industry, GB standards turn out to be the normative ones, while insisting on the testing and the compliance is what YD standards do.

Key Standards: 

• YD/T 1258: Basic identity of the optical fibers cables 

• YD/T 1997: FTTH drop cable indoor Featuring specification 

• GB/T 7424: Optical fiber test methods in general

They play a critical role for the development of domestic networks and infrastructure acquisition by the government in China.

MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology): https://www.miit.gov.cn

Standards Search (China National Standard Service Platform): https://std.samr.gov.cn

Note: GB/T and YD/T standards can often be purchased or downloaded from Chinese platforms such as:

• https://www.bzwxw.com

• https://www.spc.net.cn

■ Comparison Table of Major Fiber Optic Standards Organizations

■ Why Do Standards Matter?

Interoperability: Verification is the guarantee that all the equipment coming from various manufacturers can be functional. 

Performance: For transmission specifications, it guarantees quality and safety of data. 

Compliance: It gets bilateral agreements from bids to the required standard. 

Trust: It imparts credibility in the offshore markets. 

Well-written cohesive fiber cables are definitely the needed evidence and the right regulations provide long-term reliability and compatibility.

■ Conclusion

Embedding in the Fiber Optic Cable Standards Organizations is paramount in the area of the design, manufacture, and installation of the cable standards. In a way, it goes from the major worldwide organizations of IEC, ITU-T to the national-level representatives of TIA, Telcordia, who serve as the forum for innovation of the technologies which run the networks.

If you're responsible for a project, buying, or distributing, and wondering about fiber optic compliant cables, make sure that its vendor can show you that the cables comply with the norms IEC, ITU-T, or GR.

■ Zion Communication – Your Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturer Years That You Can Trust 

At Zion Communication, we specialize in the design and manufacturing of premium grade fiber optic cables that do not only comply with domestic standards, but also international ones. 

Following are some of the international standards we adhere to and believe in: 

• IEC 60794 series (mechanical properties and structure) 

• G.652/G.657 (optical fiber property of fibers) 

• Telcordia standards for GR-20 and GR-409. 

• TIA-568 / TIA-598 (for structured cabling systems) 

Decades in the market has brought their respect to our products amongst, for example, telecom operators, system integrators, and distributors in more than 50 countries. If you prefer ADSS to OPGW, duct to indoor, FTTH drop cables, or if you are seeking tailor-made ones, we will meet the demands of the standards that are obligatory for your project. 

• OEM/ODM available 

• Both full test reports and certificates are included. 

• Our plant in Hangzhou city serves as the base of operations where we manufacture our products, which arrive to you in no time. 

• We invite you as our partner to reach out to us, and in the packed field of fiber optic cable solutions, soaring beyond your expectations is our field.

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