Cable built from fibers each carrying a 900 µm tight buffer, laid around a central member with aramid yarn and an outer jacket. Distribution cable has a single jacket over all the buffered fibers; breakout cable gives every fiber its own jacketed subunit. It is the standard choice for risers, backbones inside buildings and short runs to patch panels, because connectors go straight on without a fan-out kit.
It's a 24-count tight-buffered riser, so terminate it straight onto LCs at both ends, no splicing needed.
Also heard as
- tight-buffer cable
Do not mix it up with
- Loose-tube cable: Loose-tube cable carries 250 µm fibers floating in tubes and is built for outdoor temperature swings and pulling loads.
Related terms
Buffer
The protective plastic layer or tube around coated fiber, either a tight 900 µm jacket or a loose gel-filled tube.
Loose-tube cable
Outside plant cable whose fibers float inside gel-filled or dry tubes, protecting them from strain and temperature changes.
Jacket
The outer plastic sheath of a fiber cable, chosen for fire rating indoors and for UV and moisture resistance outdoors.
Aramid yarn
The yellow strength yarn inside fiber cables that takes the pulling load so the glass does not.