Kenyan network installers should begin with the actual mating interfaces and site fiber records before assigning this product to a link. This duplex FTTA patch cable connects the baseband unit at the foot of the tower to the remote radio unit at the top, carrying two OS2 9/125µm single-mode fibers inside a 7.0mm LSZH outdoor jacket. Both connector ends terminate in LC UPC duplex connectors that plug directly into the SFP and SFP+ ports of common LTE, 4G and 5G radio systems. The optical cable core is Corning G.657.A1 bend-insensitive glass, and each branch leg is protected by a helical steel armored branch tube; therefore, the cable assembly survives pulling, bird damage and rodents across years of outdoor exposure.
Product Highlights
- Corning G.657.A1 bend-insensitive fiber, 20/10D bend radius
- 7.0mm LSZH outer jacket, UV stabilized and flame retardant
- Helical steel armored branch, anti-rodent and bird-proof
- Tensile strength 200/400N, crush resistance 1100/2200N
- Stock lengths 1m to 50m; project lengths on request
- LC UPC to LC UPC duplex, OS2 9/125µm single mode
Specifications
| Connector Type | LC to LC |
|---|---|
| Polish Type | UPC to UPC |
| Fiber Mode | OS2 9/125µm |
| Wavelength | 1310/1550nm |
| Fiber Count | Duplex / 2 Fibers |
| Fiber Grade | Corning G.657.A1 |
| Min. Bend Radius (Fiber Cable) | 20/10D (Dynamic/Static) |
| Attenuation at 1310nm | ≤0.36dB/km |
| Attenuation at 1550nm | ≤0.22dB/km |
| Cable Jacket | Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) |
| Cable Diameter (Outer/Inner) | 7.0/2.0mm |
| Armored Breakout Length (End A/B) | 0.03/0.34m (0.2m optional) |
| Tensile Strength | 200/400N (Long/Short Term) |
| Crush Resistance | 1100/2200N (Long/Short Term) |
| Insertion Loss | ≤0.3dB |
| Return Loss | ≥50dB |
| Operating Temperature | -20 to 70°C (-4 to 158°F) |
| Storage Temperature | -40 to 80°C (-40 to 176°F) |
Built for the BBU to RRU link
Modern base station architecture separates the baseband unit (BBU) in the shelter or cabinet from the remote radio unit (RRU) mounted beside the antenna. The channel between them carries CPRI or eCPRI traffic over duplex single-mode fiber, and it is the most mechanically stressed jumper in the network: it hangs vertically on the tower, flexes in the wind, and is exposed to ultraviolet radiation, rain and temperature cycling every day of its service life. This optical cable is engineered for exactly that run, with a jacket and strength arrangement rated for outdoor installation rather than adapted from an indoor patch cord.
Why the armored branch matters on a tower
The last meters of an FTTA run are the most vulnerable. Where the trunk cable breaks out into legs at the RRU end, standard 2.0mm tails can usually be crushed by clamps, chewed by rodents or pecked open by birds. Each branch leg of this cable assembly is sleeved in a helical stainless steel tube that keeps the branch flexible while adding real crush and bite resistance. The breakout point is potted and strain-relieved; therefore, tower vibration and handling loads never reach the ferrule end-faces.
G.657.A1 glass in tight tower routing
Cable routing on a monopole or lattice tower rarely permits generous sweep bends. Because G.657.A1 bend-insensitive fiber tolerates a 10D static and 20D dynamic bend radius, the optical cable can usually be dressed through cable glands, tight tray entries and the crowded junction box at the tower base without adding macrobend loss. The glass remains fully compatible with legacy G.652.D single-mode plant, which keeps the channel channel budget unchanged when the jumper cable connects into older feeder fiber.
LSZH jacket for mixed indoor-outdoor routes
Multiple FTTA runs start inside an equipment shelter, pass through a wall gland and continue outdoors up the tower. A single cable that is legal for both zones simplifies the bill of materials: the low smoke zero halogen jacket meets indoor fire expectations while its UV-stabilized, chemically resistant compound handles years of outdoor exposure. There is no transition point, no extra enclosure, and one less splice in the loss calculation.
Standard lengths and custom builds
Regular lengths are stocked for fast delivery: 1m (3ft), 2m (7ft), 3m (10ft), 5m (16ft), 10m (33ft), 20m (66ft), 30m (98ft) and 50m (164ft), covering the common shelter-to-tower and frame-to-radio runs this cord is built for. Project-specific lengths beyond this range are manufactured to order. For tower runs, measure the pathway from the BBU patching field to the RRU port with the optical cable tray channel included, then add working slack at both connector ends; an accurately ordered length avoids a service loop hanging on the structure. Specifying the specific pathway length avoids both the slack storage problem of an overlong cord and the strain risk of one that is too short.
Factory testing and quality checks
Every assembly is terminated with precision zirconia ferrule connectors and optically tested before packing: insertion loss is verified against the 0.3dB ceiling and return loss against the 50dB minimum on each branch leg, not on a sample basis. End-face geometry is inspected for consistent physical contact, and the optical cable is proof-checked so that the delivered jumper can usually be plugged in and put into service without on-site rework.
How to Order and Factory Support
Refer to the LC-LC duplex FTTA range when asking for a quotation and state the pathway length and the breakout style specified at the RRU end. For connector mixes other than LC to LC, or for non-standard breakout lengths, the project-specific FTTA program covers the matching cable platform; send the specification with the request and the factory will check the manufacturable specification before manufacturing. Project support for Kenya and East Africa is available to reconcile the ordered configuration with the intended installation.