Parameters of 288-core optical cable

A 288-core optical fiber cable typically consists of 12 tubes with 24 fibers each, using standard TIA/EIA color coding for easy identification.

Cable Structure

A standard 288-core optical cable is often designed as a multi loose tube or ribbonized cable for high-density applications such as data centers, campus backbones, or industrial networks . Key structural features include:

• Number of Tubes: 12
• Fibers per Tube: 24
• Total Fibers: 288
• Tube Diameter: Approximately 2.5 mm
• Fiber Type: Can be MM OM2, OM3, OM4, or SM OS2 depending on application
• Strength Members: Glass yarns or aramid fibers
• Armor: Optional Corrugated Steel Tape for rodent protection
• Outer Jacket: LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) or PE for outdoor use

Fiber Color Coding

For identification, the TIA/EIA-598-C standard is applied. In high-count cables, the 12-color sequence is used for both the tube and the fiber within the tube : 12-Color Sequence:

1. Blue
2. Orange
3. Green
4. Brown
5. Slate (Gray)
6. White
7. Red
8. Black
9. Yellow
10. Violet
11. Rose (Pink)
12. Aqua Example: Fiber #45 in a 288-core cable falls into the 4th tube (Brown) and is the 9th fiber within that tube (Yellow).

Ribbonized Cables

Some 288-core cables are ribbonized for mass fusion splicing:

• Fibers are grouped into 12-fiber ribbons
• Each ribbon may be contained in a sub-unit tube for easier handling
• Ribbons can be stacked or bundled compactly to maximize density
• Ribbonized design allows MPO/MTP connector termination for 12-fiber groups

Summary Table

This configuration ensures efficient fiber management, easy identification, and high-density deployment in both indoor and outdoor environments .