NTT Unveils Dual-Mode Optical Fiber

NTT Photonics Laboratories introduced a Dual-Mode Fiber (DMF) that functions as both multi-mode and single-mode optical fiber. Up until now, businesses have had to choose between single-mode or multi-mode optical fiber for their data transmission and data center needs. NTT said its Dual-Mode Fiber eliminates the need for expensive system upgrades by functioning as both multi-mode fiber and single-mode fiber. At the outset, when businesses transmission demands are low, Dual-Mode Fiber can be installed and used as multi-mode fiber at a lower cost than a single-mode fiber system. When demand increases, Dual-Mode Fiber seamlessly transitions to functioning as single-mode fiber, without a complicated and time-consuming fiber-reinstallation upgrade.




The Dual-Mode solution can also be used where multi-mode fiber has already been installed. The coexistence of both multi-mode and single-mode optical fiber leads to increasing fiber management and ownership costs as the system grows. Each fiber must be utilized for specific functions and as the system grows and becomes more complicated, additional resources are required to manage the connections properly and avoid misuse. Dual-Mode Fiber is compatible with and easily interconnected with both multi-mode and single-mode fiber, with low optical connection loss to either type, reducing management and ownership costs and eliminating misuse.



NTT's Dual-Mode Fiber features a low splicing and return loss connection with conventional single-mode fiber (Typical connection loss: 0.01 dB @ 1.31 mm and 0.05 dB @ 1.55 mm, return loss: >50dB) and multi-mode fiber (Typical connection loss: 0.02 dB @ 850 nm, return loss: >28dB). The product also features a low bending loss of 5 mm radium (one turn) for single- and multi-mode transmission simultaneously. Dual-Mode Fiber has a cylindrically symmetric structure which provides relatively flat transparent characteristics for wavelength region between 1250 nm and 1650 nm (10 turns of 10 mm radium).

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