The Vascade® EX2000 optical fiber has an effective area of ​​112 square microns (μm²) and an average attenuation loss of 0.162 decibels per kilometer (dB/km) at 1550 nanometers (nm). This design attribute allows system designers to extend system reach and reduce the number of amplifiers in networks with expensive submarine repeaters. In submarine networks without repeaters, the Vascade EX2000 fiber can provide higher optical launch power and increase the reachable length. Corning will use this new optical fiber to develop its next-generation managed dispersion fiber solution, Vascade® R2000 fiber, which enables 40 gigabit-per-second (Gb/s) and 100 Gb/s systems to reach transoceanic distances.

“A large effective area and very low loss are essential fiber attributes that improve system performance and deliver cost-saving benefits to any operating system at very high data rates. Today, we are facing the first deployment of 40 Gb/s systems in submarine networks, and we expect Vascade R2000 and Vascade EX2000 fibers to play a pivotal role,” said Barry Linchuck, Director of Worldwide Marketing for Corning Fiber Optics. “Industry trends point to the deployment of higher line rates and greater capacity. This drives the need to develop and offer new submarine fiber optics and unique fiber optic dispersion management solutions. We believe Corning innovation is at the forefront of these developments.”