Drop cable, also known as FTTH drop cable, butterfly drop cable, or indoor drop cable, is specifically designed for the last mile of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks. The structure of a drop cable typically places the fiber unit at the center, with two parallel strengthening elements (such as metal wire, non-metallic FRP, or KFRP) on either side. An additional steel wire strengthening element (hanger) is added on the outer side, followed by an extruded low-smoke, zero-halogen outer sheath. This design makes the cable both robust and lightweight. The number of fiber cores in a drop cable is usually small, generally ranging from 1 to 4 cores, but can increase to up to 12 cores with greater demand. This design makes the cable suitable for short-distance transmission and indoor cabling. Drop cables are flexible and lightweight, making them ideal for installation in small bends and confined spaces, which is particularly useful in home and office environments. Drop cables have good tensile and lateral pressure resistance. The strengthening elements ensure that the cable can withstand certain levels of tension and lateral pressure, maintaining stability and reliability during installation. Drop cables are typically made with low-smoke, zero-halogen flame-retardant materials, providing environmental and fire safety benefits. In emergencies such as fires, they can effectively reduce the emission of smoke and toxic gases, protecting personnel and property.
Drop cables are an essential part of FTTH networks, forming the cable line between the user access point and the user terminal. Through drop cables, high-speed, stable network connections can be achieved for fiber-to-the-home services.
In addition to FTTH networks, drop cables are also suitable for other fiber access networks, such as fiber-to-the-office (FTTO) and fiber-to-the-building (FTTB). In these scenarios, drop cables play a vital role in connecting users to network access points. Drop cables are also commonly used in indoor cabling applications, such as homes, offices, and data centers. Their flexibility, lightness, tensile strength, and pressure resistance make them an ideal choice for indoor cabling.
