Indoor Fiber Optic Cable Selection Guide for FTTH, RRU, MPO, and Jumper Applications

■ Indoor Optical Fiber Cable Selection Guide by Application: Jumper, Distribution, FTTX, RRU & MPO Solutions 

Choosing the right indoor fiber optic cable can be a challenging decision. Whether it's FTTH installations, deploying data center circuits, or wireless backhaul for base stations, understanding each cable's application will play a crucial role in ensuring not only performance and safety but also economic efficiency.

The indoor optical fiber cables discussed in this guide are tailored to specific application scenarios. Similar product solutions are offered by Zion Communication, including FTTX drop cables, jumper wires, distribution cables, and MPO patch cords.

Indoor Optical Fiber Cable

■ 1. Jumper Cables – For Indoor Termination, Pigtails, and Patch Cords 

Jumper cables can easily connect storage boxes with optical equipment or be used as patch cords or pigtails.

Ø Common Types 

• Tight-Buffered Fiber: With a 900μm protective sheath, it is reasonably bendable, making it suitable for termination and a variety of simple routing options. 

• Single-fiber indoor cable: Oftentimes, a simplex round indoor cable is found in fiber patch cords, which has a single fiber. 

• Duplex Flat Indoor Cable (A and B): Cables with a flat structure, composed of two fibers, used in data centers for polarity matching.

Ø Applications 

• Transmitter to transceiver 

• Laying wiring inside racks or enclosure boxes 

• Optical test transmission lines 

Features: Beneficial low-smoke, zero-halogen jackets, easy to end, compact types. 

Jumper Cables – Product Comparison Table

■ 2. Indoor Distribution Fiber Cables – For conducting horizontal/vertical cables.

Such cables are most commonly used as a backbone or vertical cable between or within buildings.

Ø Cable Options 

• Multi-Fiber Distribution Indoor Cable A/B 

  Sheath with several tight-buffered fibers, bonded under one common sheath. 

• Breakout Cable 

  Every fiber has its own jacketing that makes branching easy.

• Optical Fiber Ribbon Indoor Cable 

  High-density, mass fusion splicing-capable solution, with affordable and deployable options.

Ø Applications 

• Laying fiber cable in a horizontal configuration in commercial buildings. 

• Vertical space in towers of offices. 

• Connecting the optical distribution frame (ODF) to the channel available. 

Features: LSZH sheath, compact size, accessibility to fibers, and high fiber count.

Indoor Distribution Cables – Product Comparison Table

■ 3. FTTX Drop Cables – For broadband last-mile cable networks. 

Essentially, a fiber-optic drop cable brings fiber from the distribution point into the subscriber's home for FTTH. Zion offers a broad selection of bow-type drop cables suitable for this project.

Ø Key Product Lines 

• Bow-Type Drop Cable for FTTX A/B 

  Utilizing 1-4 cores and FRP or steel reinforcement in 2.0×3.0mm or 2.0×5.0mm sizes. 

• Armored Bow-type Drop Cable 

  Exposure to extra steel cable, therefore making it rodent-proof. 

• Direct Drop Cabletelevision/Aerial/Duct 

  It is dual, as it can be used as a suspended or conduit.

Ø Applications 

Breakthrough of fiber-optics in mass areas and households 

The communications link between the indoor and the outdoor area of the client site. 

Drop a duct or a cable aerially from the poles. 

Features: 

• LSZH sheath (black or white) 

• G.657A2 bend-insensitive fibers. 

• Reinforcements made of steel wire or FRP. 

• High tensile strength levels (e.g. MAT 134N~834N).

FTTX Drop Cables – Product Comparison Table

■ 4. RRU Optical Cables – For transmitting wireless backhaul signals from base stations 

Primarily, existing optical cables are already established for Wireless Remote Radio Units (RRUs), which play a crucial role in a mobile base station's (4G/5G) infrastructure.

Ø Types Available 

• RRU Cable Type A to G 

  Designed for the transition from different extremes to smoothly indoor use. 

  It is capable of supporting either connectorized or field connectors.

Ø Applications 

• To baseband modules, tower bearing RRU units. 

• Macro + small fiber cell deployment. 

• High vibration, tight bending environment.

Features: 

• Reinforced to ensure low vibration and pull strength. 

• Materials that are waterproof and do withstand UV. 

• Possible usage of both inside or outside.

RRU Optical Cables – Product Comparison Table

■ 5. MPO Jumper Wires – For high-density data centers 

The optical MPO patch cords are crucial in contemporary high-speed optical networks (40G or 100G) where a number of fibers are covered in a single connector.

Ø Options 

MPO Patch Cord A/B/C 

• Different reverse and fiber counts available (8F, 12F, 24F) 

• The SFP/QSFP/parallel optics compatible.

Ø Applications 

• Data center interconnects. 

• Backbone cabling between switches. 

• Expression of parallel optics and high-rate transmission. 

Features 

• Plug-and-play MPO/MTP connectors. 

• Ability to customize the length and breakout fanout configurations. 

• High insertion loss control and repeatability. 

MPO Jumper Wires – Product Comparison Table

■ Comparison Table by Application

■ Why Choose the Right Indoor Optical Cable? 

• Performance: Signals will get widely reduced; reflectivity less than lower signals; delay in time will be lessening than better reliability. 

• Safety: The fire-retardant LSZH materials reduce the production of toxic fumes during a building fire. 

• Installation Efficiency: Structured designs imply decreases in working time and low risk. 

• Regulatory Compliance: Strong compliance with G.657A2, ISO/IEC, TIA, etc. regulations.

■ Looking for a Reliable Indoor Fiber Cable Supplier?

Zion Communication offers a comprehensive portfolio for indoor fiber optics with: 

• Custom fabrication of lengths & numbers of the cores; 

• OEM/ODM labeling and private packaging; 

• Through product description and confirmation of the products. 

• Quick access & including global shipping. 

Contact us now to get specifications, pricing, and samples for your project.

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