The Corning SMF-28 is a single-mode optical fiber designed for telecommunications and data network applications requiring low attenuation and high reliability. Supplied as bare fiber in a 5000 m / 5 km spool, it meets ITU-T G.652.D standard specifications and delivers performance across the C-band, L-band, and extended wavelength windows. The fiber undergoes proof testing at ≥100 kpsi (0.7 GPa) tensile stress across its entire length, ensuring mechanical integrity in demanding installations.
Technical Specifications
Optical Performance
• Core diameter: 8.2 µm
• Cladding diameter: 125 ± 1 µm
• Coating diameter: 245 ± 5 µm
• Mode field diameter at 1310 nm: 9.2 ± 0.4 µm
• Mode field diameter at 1550 nm: 10.4 ± 0.5 µm
• Numerical aperture: 0.14
• Cable cutoff wavelength: ≤1260 nm
• Zero dispersion wavelength: 1304–1324 nm
• Zero dispersion slope: ≤0.092 ps/(nm²•km)
Attenuation
• 1310 nm: ≤0.32 dB/km
• 1383 nm: ≤0.32 dB/km
• 1490 nm: ≤0.21 dB/km
• 1550 nm: ≤0.18 dB/km
• 1625 nm: ≤0.20 dB/km
Dispersion & PMD
• Dispersion at 1550 nm: ≤18.0 ps/(nm•km)
• Dispersion at 1625 nm: ≤22.0 ps/(nm•km)
• PMD link design value: ≤0.04 ps/√km
• Maximum individual fiber PMD: ≤0.1 ps/√km
Environmental
• Operating temperature: −60°C to +85°C
• Proof stress: ≥100 kpsi (0.7 GPa)
– Key Features
• Bare fiber format — no protective jacket; ready for custom termination and installation
• Wavelength range 1285–1625 nm accommodates C-band, L-band, and EDFA extended-window systems
• Low attenuation in the 1550 nm transmission window minimizes signal loss over long distances
• Tight mode field diameter tolerance ensures low splice loss and compatibility with standard single-mode components
• Proven proof-test strength provides reliability in mechanically demanding environments
– Typical Applications
• Long-distance telecommunications and metro network backbone installations
• Custom fiber patch cords and specialty cable assemblies
• Laboratory test setups and fiber optic system development
• Field deployments requiring bare fiber spooled in bulk
– Compatibility & Integration
ITU-T G.652.D certification ensures interoperability with legacy and modern optical infrastructure. The fiber’s single-mode characteristics and dispersion profile suit wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) and dense WDM systems operating at 1310 nm and 1550 nm windows.
