Choosing a Fiber Cable

Looking for a fiber optic cable style? Download our Fiber Comparison Matrix.

Cleerine SSF™ Fiber Cable Types

Choosing a fiber cable configuration? Cleerline SSF™ fiber optic cables are available in typical industry cable constructions. These include lower strand counts like Simplex or Duplex, high strand count Micro Distribution cables, or Armored and Direct Burial constructions.

Additionally, Cleerline SSF™ cables have a variety of jacket rating options, including Riser, Plenum, and CPR-rated LSZH. Read on for more information on our specific cable constructions. For full details on each cable type, refer to its individual product page.

To compare our current fiber configurations, download our Fiber Comparison Matrix.

For readers in the EU and UK, our available offering of cables is different from the above due to CPR requirements. View the currently available configurations.

Most fiber cable types are available in both single mode and multimode. For more information on selecting fiber type and number of strands, visit Selecting Fiber Type and Count. Even more information on the difference between single mode and multimode fiber is available in our article.

Simplex: 1 Fiber

Simplex
Simplex OM3

Simplex cable consists of one jacketed fiber optic strand in a 3.0 mm tube.

This cable is available in single mode or multimode.

Applications Include:

  • Voice or data communication

Rating Options:

  • Riser Indoor
  • Plenum Indoor/Outdoor
  • CPR-Rated LSZH

Duplex: 2 Fibers

Duplex OM3 Fiber Optic Cable
Duplex OM3

Duplex cable is built of two 3.0 mm tubes in a zipcord configuration. Each tube contains a single strand of fiber. Duplex cable is frequently used for patch cords, and this cable is a very common choice for installations. In general, we recommend a minimum of two strands of fiber for most applications.

Duplex is available in single mode or multimode.

Applications Include:

  • Bidirectional data transmission
  • Connecting network switches to access points

Rating Options:

  • Riser Indoor
  • Plenum Indoor/Outdoor
  • CPR-Rated LSZH

Micro Distribution: 2-144 Fibers

Micro Distribution OS2
Micro Distribution OS2

Cleerline SSF™ Micro Distribution can replace all standard tight-buffer distribution cables. Each Micro Distribution cable configuration consists of one 2.0 mm or 3.0 mm tube containing multiple 250 µm fiber strands. Currently, we produce this fiber configuration in up to 144 strands.

Micro Distribution is especially suited for indoor networking as it is lightweight, extremely flexible, and very fast to terminate. This cable is available in single mode or multimode.

Applications Include:

  • Data communication backbones
  • Fiber-to-the-desk (FTTD) / Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH)

Rating Options:

  • Riser Indoor
  • Plenum Indoor/Outdoor
  • CPR-Rated LSZH

24 Strand Single Tube Micro Distribution: 24 Fibers

24STD9125SMOS2P
24 Strand Single Tube OS2

Cleerline SSF™ 24 Strand Single Tube Micro Distribution holds 24 optical fibers within one 3.1 mm outer jacket. This cable is available in single mode or multimode.

Applications Include:

  • Data centers and high density settings

Rating Options:

  • Plenum Indoor/Outdoor

Rugged Micro Distribution: 2-24 Fibers

Rugged Micro OS2
Rugged Micro Distribution OS2

Cleerline Rugged Micro Distribution Fiber is very similar to the Micro Distribution cable above, but features an additional layer of jacketing and additional fiberglass yarns.

It is intended for installations outdoors in conduit or indoors in riser spaces. This cable is available in single mode or multimode.

Applications Include:

  • Installations outdoors in ducts or indoors in riser spaces

Rating Options:

  • Riser Indoor/Outdoor

Breakout : 4 Fibers

Breakout OM3
Breakout OM3

SSF™ Breakout cable has an overall jacket containing 2.0mm subunits, each holding a single strand of fiber. Some configurations also include a central strength member. The layered construction of this cable type provides extra protection for the glass. Breakout cable is also very efficient to terminate, connectors can be installed on the individual subunits without a fanout kit.

This cable is currently available in multimode only.

Applications Include:

  • Installations requiring increased durability

Rating Options:

  • Riser Indoor
  • Plenum Indoor/Outdoor

Aluminum Interlocking Armored: 2-144 Fibers

AIA OS2
Aluminum Interlocking Armored OS2

Aluminum Interlocking Armored (AIA) Micro Distribution fiber’s core is protected by a spirally-wrapped aluminum strip. This cable is intended for indoor applications in which cable requires extra protection.

Cleerline AIA cables are highly crush resistant, rodent resistant, and are available in single mode or multimode.

Applications Include:

  • Indoor installations without conduit

Rating Options:

  • Plenum Indoor

Armored Corrugated Steel Direct Burial: 2-24 Fibers

ACS OM3
Armored Corrugated Steel OM3

Cleerline SSF™ Armored Corrugated Steel Direct Burial cable features a heavy-duty construction. The fibers are protected by a corrugated armored steel tube, and the fiber’s outer jacket is UV-resistant polyethylene.

Direct Burial cable is highly crush resistant and rodent resistant. It is a larger cable, with a diameter of 9.0 mm. Cables are available in single mode or multimode.

Applications Include:

  • Direct burial

Rating Options:

  • Outdoor Only/Direct Burial

Tactical Micro Distribution: 2-12 Fibers

Tactical Micro
Tactical Micro

SSF™ Tactical Micro Distribution is designed for broadcast and industrial environments, or situations where the cable may need to be moved or changed. Available in single mode or multimode.

Applications Include:

  • Broadcast and Industrial

Rating Options:

  • Non-rated: Outdoor Only

Tactical Breakout: 2-4 Fibers

Tactical Breakout
Tactical Breakout

SSF™ Tactical Breakout is also designed for broadcast and industrial environments. Available in single mode or multimode.

Applications Include:

  • Broadcast and Industrial
  • Harsh environments

Rating Options:

  • Non-rated: Outdoor Only

Fiber + Power: 2 Fibers

Fiber + Power OM3
Fiber + Power

Fiber + Power features two fibers in a Micro Distribution configuration alongside one 2 conductor 18 AWG copper cable. As a result, this cable type allows for convenient simultaneous data and power transmission. Fiber + Power is available in single mode or multimode.

Applications Include:

  • Network and cameras requiring PoE

Rating Options:

  • Plenum Indoor/Outdoor

Fiber + Category: 2 Fibers

Fiber + Category
Fiber + Category

SSF™ Fiber + Category consists of two simplex OM3 fibers alongside 2 Cat 6 cables. This cable is available only in 500 ft spools due to its larger outer diameter (14.0 mm). With this cable, Category and fiber cables can be pulled simultaneously. This configuration is only available in multimode.

Applications Include:

  • Installations requiring both fiber and category cable

Rating Options:

  • Riser Indoor

Hybrid Demarc Cable: 2 Fibers

Demarc
Hybrid Demarc

Cleerline SSF™ Hybrid Demarc Duplex cable is built with one strand of SSF™ cable (orange) and one strand of BSF™ BendSafe traditional fiber (blue). This duplex cable is in a zipcord style with a 3.0 mm Plenum-rated jacket.

Applications Include:

  • Installation to service demarcs

Rating Options:

  • Plenum Indoor/Outdoor

Looking for a different cable type?

Custom configurations are available.