Corning SMF/DS Bare Optical Fiber
SMF/DS is Corning's true dispersion-shifted fiber, compliant with ITU-T G.653.A, with the zero-dispersion wavelength shifted from 1310 nm to 1550 nm. It is a legacy product that was the optimal fiber for single-channel 1550 nm systems before WDM made its fundamental design limitation apparent.
- ITU-T standard
- G.653.A
- Zero dispersion wavelength
- 1550 nm
- Mode field diameter
- 7.8–8.6 µm @ 1550 nm
- Cladding diameter
- 125 µm
Moving the zero-dispersion wavelength to 1550 nm was the right answer in the mid-1980s when most long-haul systems were single-channel and dispersion was the dominant impairment. Signals propagate at 1550 nm without pulse spreading, extending the single-channel regenerator spacing far beyond what was achievable on standard single-mode fiber at the time.
The same property that made SMF/DS attractive for single-channel systems made it unsuitable for WDM: zero dispersion at the operating wavelength drives four-wave mixing, a nonlinear interaction between wavelength channels that generates crosstalk products. When WDM arrived, SMF/DS plant had to be upgraded or worked around. Non-zero dispersion-shifted fibers (LEAF, MetroCor) were the solution.
SMF/DS remains in significant amounts of installed long-haul plant, most of it single-channel or upgraded with careful power control. We supply it for matching that plant and for test spools where a known zero-dispersion wavelength at 1550 nm is required. Standard coating is CPC6 (250 µm).
Specifications
| ITU-T standard | G.653.A |
|---|---|
| Zero dispersion wavelength | 1550 nm |
| Mode field diameter | 7.8–8.6 µm @ 1550 nm |
| Cladding diameter | 125 µm |
| Coating | 250 µm CPC6 (standard) |
| Attenuation @ 1550 nm | ≤ 0.25 dB/km |
Typical Applications
- Legacy matching and mid-span splicing for installed SMF/DS long-haul plant
- Test spools with zero-dispersion at 1550 nm for dispersion measurements
- Single-channel 1550 nm link testing and characterization
Why Order Corning Fiber from Aumictech?
We source directly from the Corning authorized channel. Every spool ships with documentation, including reel ID and fiber code.
0.5 km to 1,000 km on a single order. Mix lengths across spools. Choose FC, SC, or LC connectors per spool end, or leave ends bare.
Certificate of compliance and OTDR test data available on request. Required for carrier acceptance testing and network documentation.
Continental US next-day and two-day air available. International shipping on request. Most orders confirmed within one business day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is SMF/DS unsuitable for DWDM?
Four-wave mixing (FWM) is a nonlinear effect where three optical wavelengths mix to generate a fourth at a frequency offset by the channel spacing. FWM efficiency is maximized when dispersion is near zero, because low dispersion keeps the interacting channels phase-matched over long distances. In SMF/DS, the zero-dispersion wavelength sits in the middle of the C-band DWDM channel plan. The result is strong FWM crosstalk between channels that grows with channel count and power. NZ-DSF fibers like LEAF solve this by keeping a few ps/nm/km of dispersion in the C-band, which destroys the phase matching condition and suppresses FWM.