China Unicom primarily uses G.654.E single-mode fiber, including low-loss and ultra-low-loss large effective area fibers, for high-speed and long-distance transmission.

Overview of Fiber Types

China Unicom has deployed G.654.E single-mode fibers, also known as Large Effective Area Fiber (LEAF), in its backbone networks . These fibers are designed for long-haul, high-capacity transmission, offering superior performance in high-speed systems compared to conventional single-mode fibers. The LEAF fibers have a large effective area, which reduces nonlinear effects and allows for higher power transmission, making them ideal for 100G and beyond optical networks .

Key Features

• Low Loss and Ultra-Low Loss Options: China Unicom uses both low-loss large effective area fibers and ultra-low-loss large effective area fibers, which minimize signal attenuation over long distances .
• High-Speed Transmission: These fibers support single-wavelength 100G transmission and are suitable for future upgrades to even higher data rates .
• Environmental Adaptability: The fibers have been tested in harsh environments, including deserts, snow-covered mountains, and expressway pipelines, ensuring reliability under extreme conditions .
• Standards Compliance: The fibers conform to ITU-T G.654.E standards, which define the specifications for large effective area single-mode fibers .

Applications

China Unicom deploys these fibers in trunk cables for long-distance and intercity networks, as well as in FTTH, 5G, and LAN applications for high-speed connectivity . The fibers are installed in ducts, pipelines, and aerial routes, providing flexibility for various network topologies .

Suppliers

The main supplier for China Unicom's G.654.E fibers is Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (YOFC), which has collaborated with China Unicom since 2015 to provide these specialized single-mode fibers . YOFC has also developed the FarBand Ultra ultra-low-loss fiber, filling a domestic gap in high-performance optical fiber technology .

Summary

China Unicom's single-mode fiber infrastructure relies on G.654.E LEAF fibers, optimized for long-distance, high-speed, and high-capacity transmission. These fibers are low-loss, environmentally robust, and ITU-T compliant, enabling China Unicom to support advanced optical networks, including 100G and future high-speed deployments .