FTTH factory procurement starts by defining the material scope: coated bare optical fiber on reels, rather than completed FTTH drop cable. Choose the actual G.657.A1, A2 or B3 specification required by the cable design; include G.652.D only where its documented parameters fit the requirement. Confirm the coating option, total fiber-km, preferred continuous reel lengths and acceptable allocation before comparing prices. Ask for the offered datasheet, reel identifiers, applicable test records and packaging proposal. Agree how samples or production trials will be accepted and how substitutions will be approved. OpticFiberHub supports fiber material sourcing; the cable manufacturer remains responsible for finished-product construction and qualification. Availability, commercial terms and delivery commitments must be confirmed for the actual quotation.
Define what the FTTH factory is buying
This FTTH factory procurement guide is for purchasing teams sourcing fiber material for cable production. OpticFiberHub presents coated optical fiber on reels. The purchasing brief should identify the intended cable construction and the technical approval process. If the requirement is actually for finished cable, identify that different scope before requesting a quotation.
Keep procurement and engineering responsibilities connected. The buyer records quantities and terms; the engineering team approves optical, geometry and coating requirements and any process trial. A quotation is easier to compare when all suppliers receive the same written scope and must identify exceptions.
Lock the actual grade and coating before price comparison
For the site-listed products, A1 offers 245 ± 10 μm or 200 ± 10 μm coating, A2 lists 242 ± 7 μm or 200 ± 10 μm, and B3 lists 242 ± 7 μm. Write the chosen option in the RFQ. Do not replace these with a generic 250 μm description or assume an unlisted option can be supplied.
Require the exact supplier specification and revision, including attenuation wavelengths and the complete bend-test conditions. If G.652.D is part of the requirement, distinguish its standard 1550 nm attenuation limit from the optional low-loss grade. Ask the supplier to flag any change of grade, coating or acceptance evidence in writing.
Separate fiber-km from cable-km and reel count
Total material quantity is individual fiber length. For example, an illustrative 10 cable-km design containing four fibers requires 40 fiber-km before any separately justified production allowance. This arithmetic is not a recommended order size, an allowance percentage or an available reel length. Have the production planner confirm the actual bill of materials.
List preferred continuous length per reel separately from total quantity. State whether mixed lengths are acceptable, any required tolerance and how short reels should be handled. Ask for a proposed allocation that reconciles reel identifiers and lengths with the quoted total. Do not infer a standard reel length or minimum order from a product photograph.
Tie acceptance evidence to the offered reels
Request the datasheet, traceable reel list and applicable optical and geometry records. Specify measured attenuation wavelengths and any required proof-test evidence or report format. Reference reports can explain the fields, but historical documents do not prove conformity of a new shipment. Define the document review point before shipment approval.
If production qualification is required, agree on samples or a trial with documented acceptance criteria. Bare-fiber records and finished-cable results answer different questions. Keep the cable maker responsible for the completed construction and required U.S. or European project documentation; do not borrow another manufacturer’s approvals for the offered material.
Confirm packing, shipment and quotation exceptions
Provide the receiving location and ask for the proposed reel protection, labeling, carton or pallet arrangement and handling instructions. Include any limits imposed by your receiving equipment or storage process. Confirm packing and transport conditions for the actual material instead of treating generic reel illustrations as a packaging commitment.
Compare offered grade, coating, allocation, documents, packing and delivery terms together. Ask for current price, minimum order, availability and lead time without assuming fixed values. Record substitutions and unresolved questions before approval. The linked RFQ checklist helps assemble the request; submitting it is an inquiry, not a purchase order.
What to confirm
- Coated bare fiber supply scope and approved cable design
- Exact grade, coating tolerance and quotation exceptions
- Total fiber-km and preferred continuous length per reel
- Reel-linked reports, packing proposal and acceptance stage
Frequently asked questions
Does FTTH factory procurement mean buying finished drop cable?
Not in this guide. The purchasing scope is coated bare optical fiber on reels for a cable maker. Finished drop cable is a separate product and qualification scope.
Can a reel count replace total fiber-km in an RFQ?
No. Reel lengths may differ. State total fiber-km, preferred continuous length per reel and acceptable allocation, then reconcile the offered reel list.
Are sample reports proof that the next order meets the specification?
No. Request the current offered specification and applicable records connected to the actual batch and reel identifiers, with agreed acceptance criteria.
Sources & reference context
This guide is published by OpticFiberHub and summarizes the supplier literature identified below with editorial purchasing guidance. Product values describe the source grade, not a measured result or a conformity guarantee for a new order.
- G.652.D reference specifications — Jiangsu Nanfang Optical Fiber Product Manual, pages 3–4.
- G.657.A1 reference specifications — BendCom G.657.A1 Bending Insensitive Single-mode Optical Fiber datasheet, pages 1–2.
- G.657.A2 reference specifications — Jiangsu Nanfang Optical Fiber Product Manual, pages 7–8.
- G.657.B3 reference specifications — Jiangsu Nanfang Optical Fiber Product Manual, pages 9–10.
Application references
- Sumitomo Electric: optical fiber structure and handling — Background on protective coatings and reel handling. Confirm coating and handling requirements for the actual offered product.
- ITU-T G.657: bend-insensitive single-mode fiber — Category and terminology reference. The supplier values on this page are not a complete reproduction of the Recommendation.
Quality & technical resources explains source selection, translated documents and the limits of historical batch records. Request the current specification and applicable records for the actual offered material.
Single-mode standard references: ITU-T G.652 and ITU-T G.657. Supplier reference values above must not be mistaken for a reproduction of every requirement in those Recommendations.
