Method for checking the correct installation of a bend-insensitive optical cable and optical cable suitable for the method thereof

Abstract

A method for detecting faulty laying down of an optical cable exhibiting a measured cut-off wavelength includes providing an optical cable for transmitting optical signals including at least one single-mode optical fiber having an attenuation equal to or larger than a first threshold value as measured when wound for one turn around a bending radius equal to or smaller than 5 mm at at least one predetermined test wavelength, the test wavelength being smaller than the measured cut-off wavelength, and an attenuation smaller than a second threshold value as measured when wound for one turn around a bending radius equal to at least a minimum bending radius at an operative wavelength equal to or larger than the measured cut-off wavelength; laying the optical cable; and measuring the attenuation in the at least one optical fiber at the predetermined test wavelength. An optical cable includes at least one optical fiber that is bend sensitive at a predetermined test wavelength not larger than the measured cut-off wavelength and is bend insensitive at an operative wavelength larger than the measured cut-off wavelength, where the cable operates in single-mode regime.