Summary

This Recommendation describes the geometrical, mechanical, and transmission attributes of a single-mode optical fibre and cable with zero-dispersion wavelength shifted into the 1550 nm wavelength region. This is the latest revision of the Recommendation that was first created in 1988. This revision creates a new category of the fibre having a reduced PMD link design value of 0.20 ps/Ökm, in order to accommodate systems with higher bit rate/distance products than had been possible with prior revisions. This revision is intended to maintain the continuing commercial success of this fibre in the evolving world of high-performance optical transmission systems.

History

1988           Version 1.

1993     Version 2.

1997     Version 3.

2000     Version 4. This revision changed the Recommendation structure, in accordance with other fibre Recommendations such as G.652, G.654 and G.655.

2003     Version 5. This revision changed description of chromatic dispersion coefficient for ease to understand. Also, in accordance with the agreement on spectral band description, the upper limit of L-band is changed from 16xx nm to 1625 nm. Terms of base subcategory and subcategory are revised to base category and category, respectively. A new category which has reduced PMD limit (compared to 0.5 ps/Ökm), G.653.B, is created. For the macrobending test, mandrel diameter is reduced to 30 mm radius.

As seen above, this Recommendation has evolved considerably over the years; therefore the reader is warned to consider the appropriate version to determine the characteristics of already deployed product, taking into account the year of production. In fact, products are expected to comply with the Recommendation that was in force at the time of their manufacture, but may not fully comply with subsequent versions of the Recommendation.