Draka Communications – Americas announces an extension to its line of ezPREP® Central Loose Tube fiber optic drop cables by launching a new 300 lb. tensile rated design with a choice of three different levels of bend insensitive fiber. In September 2009, Draka and Tyco held a joint national webinar through OSP Magazine to educate the market on smaller and lighter outdoor cables and the associated hardware that would soon be available. These products are made possible in large part due to bend insensitive fibers and are an important part of the market’s desire to install environmentally friendly telecommunications networks.

“Draka believes in innovation that creates value for our customers and helps them do more, make more, save more and achieve more. Our leadership in bend insensitive fiber technology gives us a wide range of opportunity to improve and reinvent the world of fiber optic cable, especially in the last mile. In this case the customer gets a fantastic new product and one that helps them achieve their green initiatives,” states Greg Williams, Director of Marketing for Draka Communications - Americas. “Smaller and lighter cables will allow for more fiber capacity inside of existing splice closures, cabinets and pedestals, and the potential is also there for hardware products to become smaller and more aesthetically pleasing.”

Draka’s new 300 lb. drop cable is available from 1 to 12 fibers, gel or dry tube, is round in shape, armored, bends in any direction, and contains a single tube. The product is multi-purpose and ideal for aerial, duct, or direct buried applications. In 2005 Draka was the first manufacturer to make bend-insensitive fiber standard in all drop cables. Now all three bend insensitive fiber options are available, including BendBright, BendBright-XS, and BendBright-Elite. This product complies with GR-20 and RUS standards, and is available with indoor or outdoor style connectors and with HLC Scratchguard technology.

The HLC Scratchguard process, developed by Megladon and utilized by Draka, is a critical step forward in quality and durability for drop cables. Through a patented thermal process, the connector end face is hardened which produces a tempered fiber mating surface capable of resisting scratches, repeated plug-ins, and other harsh industrial elements.