Bend Insensitive Fiber Fact vs. Fiction Part 2: How BIF Improves the Performance of Your Cabling Infrastructure

Earlier this week I defined terms related to bend performance, such as bend insensitive fiber, bend improved, bend optimized and bend tolerant. This week, I'll show you how BIF can improve the performance of your cabling infrastructure.

The greatest benefit BIF offers is seen when deploying fiber optic jumpers and modules containing non-jacketed, buffered fiber. That is typically where small bends in fiber optic cable occur most easily. The BIF glass can endure a tighter bend radius with minimal addition of attenuation. BIF glass is also made to endure these tighter bends long term. Overall attenuation is the most important factor for a fiber optic cabling infrastructure.

A macro-bend is a visible bend in the fiber that can cause optical power attenuation or light loss. Historically with older non-BIF glass, macro bends will cause small light losses along the optical path. These can all add up to affect the total link loss or channel loss.

Now, with the MM BIF products that are available, these macro bends are still present but have a greatly reduced attenuation effect on the total link. My posts below give you some tips and best practices in regards to Bend Insensitive Fiber.