Corrugated Steel for Optical Cable

Corrugated steel armored (CST) optical cables are rugged, rodent-resistant cables designed for direct burial, duct, and indoor/outdoor installations, providing mechanical protection and environmental durability.

Construction and Design

CST optical cables typically feature a central strength member (CSM) around which loose tubes containing optical fibers are stranded. The fibers are filled with a water-blocking compound to ensure longitudinal water tightness. The cable is then armored with corrugated steel tape, often coated with a copolymer for corrosion resistance, and covered with an outer polyethylene (PE) or LSZH jacket for additional protection . Ripcords beneath the steel tape facilitate easy stripping during installation .

Key Features and Advantages

• Mechanical Protection: The corrugated steel armor provides excellent crush resistance and compressive strength, protecting fibers from external forces .
• Rodent Resistance: The steel layer prevents damage from rodents, making it suitable for areas with high rodent activity .
• Environmental Durability: CST cables are suitable for direct burial, duct installation, and indoor/outdoor use, withstanding temperature ranges from approximately -40°C to +70°C .
• Flexibility and Compactness: Despite the armor, these cables remain lightweight and flexible, allowing installation in conduits, ducts, or by blowing/floating methods .
• Flame Retardancy: Some CST cables, especially indoor/outdoor variants, are flame-retardant, suitable for riser and interbuilding applications .

Applications

• Direct Burial: Ideal for underground installations without additional conduit protection .
• Duct and Conduit Installations: Can be pulled or blown through ducts for campus or metropolitan networks .
• Indoor/Outdoor Backbones: Flame-retardant CST cables are suitable for interbuilding and intrabuilding backbones .
• High-Risk Areas: Locations with potential rodent activity or mechanical stress benefit from the armored design .

Technical Standards

CST optical cables comply with international standards such as IEC 60794, IEC 60793, ITU-T G.652, G.655, G.656, and G.657, ensuring reliable performance and compatibility with global optical networks .

Fiber Options

These cables are available in various fiber counts (e.g., 4–288 fibers) and types (OS2, OM3, OM4), allowing customization for network capacity and performance requirements .

Summary

Corrugated steel armored optical cables combine mechanical strength, environmental protection, and installation versatility, making them ideal for direct burial, duct, and indoor/outdoor backbone applications. Their robust design ensures long-term reliability, especially in challenging environments with potential physical or rodent hazards .