Prysmian's innovation marks the first time a microduct cable has integrated 160µm optical fiber. Microducts are small, flexible tubes within the cable that enable clean, continuous paths for fiber connections. The 160µm optical fiber itself sets a new standard for high-density data applications.
Combining these two technologies allows for greater efficiency and reliability, as well as increased installation flexibility thanks to its smaller size. This reduces deployment costs and accelerates installation times.
Ian Griffiths, Vice President of R&D for the Digital Solutions segment at Prysmian, stated:
“We are setting a new standard in fiber miniaturization, enabling us to achieve unprecedented cable densities. This not only improves efficiency in high-density applications such as data centers, FTTx, and 5G, but also significantly reduces deployment costs and accelerates the implementation of digital infrastructures thanks to its compact design. Furthermore, we have achieved this sustainably by reducing material usage.”
Sustainability by Design:
Thanks to the integration of PicoTube technology, a proprietary Prysmian innovation that enables ultra-compact, high-density optical cables, the new cable is up to 35% smaller compared to conventional microduct cables.
This facilitates installation in already saturated conduits and allows for the use of smaller ducts in new infrastructure, such as urban streets or data centers. As a result, both installation costs and raw material consumption are reduced, promoting environmental sustainability and economic efficiency.
Technical Details:
The Sirocco Ultra cable incorporates 288 fibers in a compact 6.1 mm diameter, achieving a density of 9.9 fibers per mm² and allowing installation in standard 8 mm conduits.
The Sirocco Ultra family uses 160µm BendBrightXS single-mode fiber (ITU-T G.657.D, G.657.A2), designed for next-generation networks with high bend resistance. Furthermore, it maintains full compatibility with existing G.652-based infrastructures, ensuring a future-proof, high-performance solution.
