How to Choose the Right Fibre Optic Cable: Drop, Duct, ADSS, Armoured and Fig-8
Buying fibre optic cable in Pakistan is easy. Buying the right cable is harder. A duct cable hung on poles, or a drop cable buried in soil, will fail early and cost you a second installation. This guide explains the main outdoor cable types we stock, where each one belongs, and what to check before you order.
Start with three questions
Before looking at cable names, answer these three questions about your route:
- Where will the cable live? Inside a duct or pipe, hanging between poles, buried directly in the ground, or running the last few metres into a home or office.
- How many fibres do you need, now and later? Fibre is cheap compared with labour. Laying a slightly higher fibre count today is usually cheaper than pulling a second cable in two years.
- What are the risks on the route? Rodents, digging, long spans between poles, strong wind, heat on rooftops, or tight bends inside buildings.
Once you know these, the choice becomes much simpler.
1. Drop cable: the last connection to the customer
Drop cables carry fibre from a distribution point (a pole, a building box or a splitter) to the subscriber. They are small, light and easy to handle, and they normally carry a low fibre count. This makes them the standard choice for FTTH and FTTx connections by ISPs and cable operators.
- Flat drop cable has a flat profile that is easy to clip along walls and through buildings. See our SM G.652.D Central Loose Tube Flat Drop Cable.
- Round drop cable has a round jacket that seals well in glands and connectors and handles outdoor runs neatly. See our SM G.652.D Central Loose Tube Round Drop Cable.
- G.657 FTTH drop cable uses bend-insensitive fibre, which tolerates tight corners inside homes and cabinets far better than standard fibre. See our Single Mode G.657 FTTH Drop Cable (Outdoor).
Use drop cable for: short runs to homes, shops, flats and offices. Do not use it for: long backbone routes, long aerial spans or direct burial.
2. Duct cable: for pipes and underground ducts
Duct cable is designed to be pulled through HDPE pipes or concrete ducts. The duct protects the cable from crushing, digging and rodents, so the cable itself does not need heavy armour. This keeps it lighter, cheaper per metre and easier to pull over long distances.
Duct routes are common along roads, in housing societies and on campuses, where pipes are already laid or are laid once and reused. See our Single Mode G.652.D Duct Type Optical Fiber Cable.
Use duct cable for: backbone and distribution inside protected ducts. Do not use it for: direct burial without a pipe, or hanging between poles.
3. ADSS cable: self-supporting on poles
ADSS stands for All-Dielectric Self-Supporting. "All-dielectric" means the cable contains no metal: strength comes from non-metallic strength members such as aramid yarn or FRP. "Self-supporting" means it hangs between poles on its own, with no separate steel messenger wire.
Because it contains no metal, ADSS is the normal choice near power lines and in areas where lightning and induced currents are a concern. It is widely used on electricity and telecom pole routes.
- Single jacket ADSS suits shorter spans and lighter conditions. See our ADSS Single Jacket.
- Double jacket ADSS adds an inner sheath for extra mechanical protection on tougher routes. See our ADSS Double Jacket.
Important: span length and sag are what decide the right ADSS cable. Tell us your typical and longest pole spacing before you order, and we will confirm a suitable cable.
4. Armoured and direct buried cable: for soil and rodents
When cable goes straight into a trench without a pipe, it needs its own protection. Direct buried cable uses a corrugated steel tape armour under a tough outer sheath. The armour resists crushing, stones and rodents, which are a real problem in many parts of Pakistan.
See our Single Mode G.652.D Direct Buried Optical Fiber Cable and our CLT Type Optical Fiber Cable (central loose tube).
Use armoured cable for: direct burial, rodent-prone areas, industrial sites and rough routes. Keep in mind: steel armour is metal, so it is not a good choice when you need an all-dielectric cable near power lines; use ADSS there instead.
5. Figure-8 cable: aerial with a built-in messenger
Figure-8 (Fig-8) cable gets its name from its cross-section: the fibre cable and a messenger wire sit in one jacket, joined by a thin web, so the shape looks like an "8". The messenger carries the weight between poles, so installation is quick and the fibre unit is protected from tension.
Fig-8 is a popular, economical choice for aerial routes by ISPs and cable operators on their own poles. See our Single Mode G.652.D Aerial Fig-8 Optical Fiber Cable.
Use Fig-8 for: aerial runs on telecom poles. Prefer ADSS when: the route shares poles with power lines and you want a fully non-metallic cable.
Quick comparison
| Cable | Best place | Main advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Flat / round drop | Last metres to the customer | Small, light, easy to install |
| G.657 drop | Homes, flats, tight indoor bends | Bend-insensitive fibre |
| Duct | Inside HDPE pipes and ducts | Light and economical for long pulls |
| ADSS | Pole routes, near power lines | Self-supporting, no metal |
| Direct buried / armoured | Trenches, rodent areas | Steel tape protection |
| Fig-8 | Aerial on telecom poles | Built-in messenger, fast install |
Which fibre inside the cable?
Most of our outdoor cables use ITU-T G.652.D single-mode fibre, the standard fibre for backbone and distribution networks. For drop cables that face tight bends, G.657 bend-insensitive fibre is the better choice. We explain the difference in our guide G.652.D vs G.657 fibre: which do you need?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying on price per metre alone. A cheaper cable that fails in one monsoon season costs far more in labour and downtime.
- Using indoor or drop cable for long outdoor runs. Drop cables are designed for short distances and light loads.
- Ignoring span length on aerial routes. Long spans need a cable rated for them.
- Bending fibre too tightly. Follow the bend radius in the datasheet, especially with G.652.D fibre.
- Not planning spare fibres. Spare cores make future expansion and repairs much easier.
Need help choosing?
Send us your route type, length, fibre count and pole spacing (for aerial routes), and we will recommend a cable and quote. We offer free delivery across Pakistan in 5–7 working days, and bulk pricing through our Bulk / Quote form.
Enquiries: WhatsApp +92 313 7776766 or email info@litech.com.pk.
