China Mobile has conducted what it says is the first test of an 800G hollow-core fiber transmission network between two cities in the southern province of Guangdong, China, outside of Hong Kong.
Provided by Linfiber Tech, the hollow-core fiber achieved several performance metrics over a 12-mile link, including self-splicing loss of 0.05 dB, hollow-core to solid-core connection loss of <0.3 dB, and an installed cable loss of 0.6 dB/km including connectors and splices.
“Hollow-core fiber is known for its low loss, low latency, low dispersion, and low nonlinearity,” Linfiber Tech said. “It has emerged as a promising star in the field of optical communication.”
The technology’s optical performance has been verified in laboratories, according to Linfiber Tech, but engineering deployments face challenges such as complex splicing, high bending loss, low structural strength, and water ingress into the fiber core.
The test route was laid in existing urban underground pipelines, which are heavily used and spatially constrained. “During the deployment, a typhoon hit, causing severe flooding in some sections and making outdoor splicing challenging due to exposure to rain and humidity.
“The test was able to overcome various conditions like tension, compression, moisture, and outdoor splicing,” Linfiber said. “The project pioneered and summarized a deployment solution for hollow-core fiber cables in complex pipeline environments and extreme weather conditions.”
By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor
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