ITU-T Recommendations

Recommendation ITU-T G.650.3 outlines the tests normally carried out on installed single-mode optical fibre cable links. It includes a collection of references to the main measurement methods and gives an indication of which are most suitable for installed cable links, depending on the required inspection level. Optical fibre cable links are comprised of multiple cable sections, splices and other connections. This term is more completely defined in this Recommendation.

This Recommendation uses a tiered approach. The first level indicates measurements that are normally carried out to commission new optical fibre cable links. The second level indicates measurements that may be carried out to satisfy service level agreements (for example, when a dark fibre contract is signed) or to verify attributes of older links that may be used at higher bit rates or over extended wavelength ranges.

This version of Recommendation ITU-T G.650.3 newly introduces the Appendix IV to provide information of splice loss measurement based on quasi-bidirectional technique. The method for differentiating splice loss and macrobending loss in installed links, which was issued as Amendment 1 for Recommendation G.650.3 in 2011, is also included as Appendix III.