G657.A1 Bending Insensitive Single-Mode Optical Fiber

Description of Bending Insensitive Single-Mode Fiber G657.A1:
G657.A1 is a type of bend-insensitive single-mode optical fiber (BIM-SMF) defined by the ITU-T G.657 standard. It is optimized for scenarios requiring tight bending (e.g., indoor cabling, FTTH), while maintaining core single-mode transmission characteristics to ensure compatibility with traditional G.652 single-mode fibers (the most widely used SMF globally). Unlike standard G.652 fibers (which are sensitive to bending losses), G657.A1 balances low bending loss, compatibility, and cost-effectiveness, making it a core solution for "last-mile" optical access networks.
It is designed to be fully backward-compatible with G.652.D fibers (the most common G.652 type), meaning it can be directly spliced or connected to G.652.D fibers without significant additional loss.
Its key advantage over G.652.D is superior bending performance: it can withstand much tighter bends (e.g., 10mm or 15mm radius) with minimal signal loss, avoiding the "macrobending loss" that plagues standard SMFs.
Operating window: Covers the core wavelength bands for optical communication—O-band (1260–1360 nm), C-band (1530–1565 nm), and L-band (1565–1625 nm)—supporting both legacy (e.g., 10G Ethernet) and high-speed (e.g., 100G/400G) transmission.
Internal Structure:
G657.A1 adopts a layered concentric structure similar to traditional SMFs, but with optimized material composition and refractive index profiles to reduce bending loss. Its cross-section consists of 3 key layers:
| Layer | Composition | Function |
| Core |
| Transmits the main optical signal (single-mode propagation to avoid modal dispersion). |
| Cladding |
| Special doping (e.g., fluorine) to adjust the refractive index profile, suppressing bending-induced signal leakage. |
| Coating |
| Absorbs mechanical shocks, protects the cladding from scratches, and maintains fiber flexibility (critical for bending). |
Features of Single Mode Fiber G657.A1:
At 1550 nm (C-band, critical for long-distance access): Bending loss ≤ 0.1 dB/turn when bent at a radius of 15mm; ≤ 0.5 dB/turn at 10mm radius.
At 1310 nm (O-band, common for short-distance): Bending loss ≤ 0.03 dB/turn at 15mm radius.
By contrast, standard G.652.D fibers have bending losses > 1 dB/turn at 15mm radius—far too high for indoor tight bends.
Splicing compatibility: Splicing G657.A1 with G652.D (via fusion splicing) results in a splice loss ≤ 0.1 dB (same as splicing two G652.D fibers), avoiding signal degradation in mixed-fiber networks.
Transmission compatibility: It supports all transmission protocols designed for G652.D (e.g., GPON, XG-PON, 10GBASE-LR), requiring no modifications to existing transceivers or network equipment.
Connector compatibility: Uses the same connectors as G652.D (e.g., SC, LC, FC), enabling plug-and-play deployment.
Compared to G657.B (a more bend-insensitive but less compatible variant) or specialty fibers, G657.A1 uses a simpler refractive index design (e.g., step-index or shallow trench profile) that is easier to manufacture. This keeps its cost close to G652.D, making it scalable for large-scale FTTH deployments.
Use case: Drop cables (from street cabinets to homes) or indoor jumpers (from ONT to routers).
Use case: Connecting top-of-rack (ToR) switches to storage area networks (SANs) or 5G small cells in enterprise buildings.
Changrong's Fiber Workshop View:
9 Fiber Drawing Towers ( 2 lines/Tower, totally 18 Production Lines)
Annual Output 15,000,000 kilometers
Full Sets of Cutting-edge Testing Equipment

Colored Fiber:

Fiber Stock:

G.657.A1 Fiber Color Identification (for colored fiber)
No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
Color | Blue | Orange | Green | Brown | Slate | White | Red | Black | Yellow | Violet | Pink | Aqua |
G.657.A1 Bare Fiber Technical Parameters
Optical Performance | |||
Characteristics | Conditions | Unit | Standard Value |
Attenuation | 1310nm | dB/km | ≤0.344 |
1383nm | dB/km | ≤value at 1310nm | |
1550nm | dB/km | ≤0.204 | |
1625nm | dB/km | ≤0.234 | |
Attenuation vs Wavelength Max Difference | 1285nm ~ 1330nm vs 1310nm | dB/km | ≤0.04 |
1525nm ~1575nm vs 1550nm | dB/km | ≤0.03 | |
Dispersion Coefficient | 1285nm~1340nm | ps/(nm/km) | ≤3.5 |
1271nm~1360nm | ps/(nm/km) | ≤5.3 | |
1550nm | ps/(nm/km) | 13.3-18.0 | |
1625nm | ps/(nm/km) | 17.2-23.0 | |
Zero Dispersion Wavelength λ0 | -- | nm | 1300-1324 |
Zero Dispersion Slope S0 | -- | ps/(nm²/km) | 0.073-0.092 |
Typical Value | -- | ps/(nm²/km) | ≤0.086 |
PMD | Maximum Individual Fiber | ps/√km | ≤0.06 |
Link (M=20, Q=0.01%) | ps/√km | ≤0.06 | |
Typical Value | ps/√km | ≤0.04 | |
Fiber Cut-off Wavelength λcc | -- | nm | 1180-1330 |
Cable Cut-off Wavelength λcc | -- | nm | ≤1260 |
MFD | 1310nm | μm | 8.8±0.4 |
1550nm | μm | 9.7±0.6 | |
Point Discontinuity | 1310nm | dB | ≤0.05 |
1550nm | dB | ≤0.05 | |
Geometrical Performance | ||
Characteristics | Unit | Standard Value |
Cladding Diameter | μm | 125.0±0.7 |
Cladding Non-circularity | % | ≤1.0 |
Core-Cladding Concentricity Error | μm | ≤0.5 |
Coating Diameter | μm | 243±5.0 |
Coating Non-circularity | % | ≤6.0 |
Coating-Cladding Concentricity Error | μm | ≤10 |
Curl Radius | m | ≥4 |
Mechanical Performance | |||
Characteristics | Conditions | Unit | Standard Value |
Proof Test | -- | % | ≥1.0 |
-- | N | ≥8.8 | |
-- | Gpa | ≥0.69 | |
Coating Strip Force | Peak Force | N | 1.0-8.9 |
Average Value | N | 1.0-5.0 | |
Tensile Strength (Weibull Probability Level) | Before -aged(sample 0.5m)(Level 15%) | Gpa | ≥3.14 |
Before -aged(sample 0.5m)(Level 50%) | ≥3.80 | ||
After -aged(sample 0.5m)(Level 15%) | ≥2.76 | ||
After -aged(sample 0.5m)(Level 50%) | ≥3.03 | ||
Dynamic Fatigue Nd | -- | ≥20 | |
Macro-bending Loss | (10 turns; Ф 30 mm) @1550 nm | dB | ≤0.25 |
(10 turns; Ф 30 mm) @1625 nm | dB | ≤1.0 | |
(1 turns; Ф 20 mm) @1550 nm | dB | ≤0.75 | |
(1 turns; Ф 20 mm) @1625 nm | dB | ≤1.5 | |
Environmental Performance | |||
Characteristics | Conditions | Unit | Standard Value |
Temperature Cycling | -60℃ ~+85℃ | dB/km | ≤0.05 |
Damp Heat Aging | 85℃、 RH 85%、 30 Days | dB/km | ≤0.05 |
Water Immersion | 23℃、 30 Days | dB/km | ≤0.05 |
Dry Heat Aging | 85℃、 30 Days | dB/km | ≤0.05 |
Reel Length:
Normally Standard 24.4km, 48.8km, 50.4km per reel
Package:
5 or 6 reels per carton box packed on pallets.
Shipping Pictures:

content is empty!