A complete technical guide covering fiber types, cable designs, sheath materials, strength members, and procurement specifications for FTTH drop cable selection.
Direct Answer: Choose GJXH/GJXFH (indoor flat drop) for indoor riser and apartment distribution, and GJYXCH/GJYXFCH (outdoor figure-8 self-supporting) for aerial outdoor drops. The three primary selection criteria are: installation environment (indoor vs outdoor), strength member type (steel wire vs FRP vs all-dielectric), and sheath material (PVC vs LSZH vs PE depending on fire and UV requirements).
A practical technical guide for ISPs, telecom contractors, FTTH installers, and distributors covering fiber types, cable designs, sheath materials, strength members, and procurement specifications for FTTH drop cables.
FTTH drop cable is the fiber optic cable that connects the network access point (typically a distribution closure or splice point) to the subscriber premises. It is the final physical link in a Fiber-to-the-Home network — the cable that runs from the street cabinet, pole, or splice closure to the customer's ONT (Optical Network Terminal).
Unlike backbone or feeder cables that carry hundreds of fibers over long distances, drop cables typically contain 1 to 4 fibers and are designed for short spans (50–500 meters). They must balance three competing requirements: low cost per subscriber, sufficient mechanical protection for the installation environment, and compliance with local building codes.
The choices an ISP makes at the drop cable level affect installation speed, long-term maintenance costs, and service upgrade flexibility. Getting the specification right upfront saves significant operational expense over the life of the network.
This is the most fundamental distinction in drop cable selection. Outdoor and indoor drop cables face completely different environmental requirements and are rarely interchangeable. For a broader comparison of sheath, fire-safety, moisture, and installation requirements, read the indoor vs outdoor fiber optic cable guide.
Outdoor drop cable must be UV-resistant, waterproof, and withstand temperature extremes. The outer sheath is typically black polyethylene (PE). Outdoor cables are often gel-filled or use water-blocking tape to prevent moisture ingress along the cable length.
Indoor drop cable prioritizes fire safety and flexibility. The sheath is typically Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH) material, which produces minimal toxic smoke when burned. Explore our FTTH drop cable range for indoor, outdoor, and self-supporting deployment options.
Universal drop cables combine both requirements — a PE outer sheath for outdoor sections with an LSZH inner sheath, allowing the same cable to run from outdoors to indoors without a splice.
For aerial installations — a common FTTH deployment method in many markets — self-supporting drop cable uses an integrated messenger element within a shaped outdoor jacket. Choose GJYXCH with steel messenger wire for standard aerial FTTH routes, or GJYXFCH all-dielectric self-supporting drop cable where metallic components are not permitted.
When to use self-supporting drop cable:
Three ITU-T standards are relevant for FTTH drop cables:
| Standard | Minimum Bend Radius | G.652D Compatibility | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.652D | Not specified by ITU-T; ~25 mm industry convention | — | Backbone and feeder cables |
| G.657A1 | 10 mm | Fully compatible | Standard FTTH installations |
| G.657A2 | 7.5 mm | Fully compatible | Tight spaces and compact closures |
Bend radius values per ITU-T G.657 recommendations.
| Environment | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Self-supporting aerial spans > 50 m | Steel messenger |
| Standard outdoor duct drop | FRP or steel |
| Indoor drop cable | FRP (non-conductive, lightweight) |
| Lightning-prone areas | FRP or KFRP (all-dielectric) |
PE (Polyethylene) — Universal outdoor sheath. UV-resistant, waterproof, flexible down to -40°C.
LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) — Fire-retardant material required for indoor installations in most modern building codes.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) — Legacy indoor cable material, increasingly replaced by LSZH globally.
| Fiber Count | Use Case | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 fiber | Bi-directional GPON | Lowest cable cost | No redundancy or upgrade path |
| 2 fibers | Ethernet P2P, RFoG | Redundant path | Limited future capacity |
| 4 fibers | Modern FTTH | 2 active + 2 spares; future XGS-PON ready | Slightly higher material cost |
1. Specifying G.652D for drop cable. Always use G.657 fiber for the drop segment.
2. Using PE-only cable for indoor runs. PE does not meet fire safety codes — specify LSZH.
3. Ignoring fiber count upgrade path. 1-fiber drops create future bottlenecks.
4. Not specifying connector requirements. Set insertion loss (≤ 0.5 dB) and return loss (≥ 60 dB APC, ≥ 50 dB UPC) thresholds.
5. One cable for all environments. Standardize on 2–3 cable variants.
Fiber: G.657A1 or G.657A2? (A2 recommended) | G.652D compatibility | Fiber count 1/2/4 (4 recommended)
Cable Design: Flat butterfly (indoor) | Round (duct/outdoor) | Self-supporting (aerial)
Sheath: PE (outdoor) | LSZH (indoor) | Universal dual-sheath
Strength Member: Steel (aerial) | FRP (standard) | All-dielectric (lightning areas)
Connector (pre-term): APC/UPC | Loss thresholds defined
MapleArashi offers a full range of FTTH drop cables to match every deployment scenario. Below are the most commonly specified models for ISP and telecom projects:
For detailed technical specifications of each model, visit our FTTH Drop Cables product page.
FTTH drop cable selection comes down to matching the cable specification to the installation environment. The industry is converging around a few best practices: G.657A2 fiber, 4-fiber count, LSZH indoor sheath, and self-supporting design for aerial drops.
Standardizing on 2–3 cable variants that cover your most common deployment scenarios reduces SKU complexity, simplifies installer training, and lowers total cost of ownership.
Contact Maplearashi for technical specifications, datasheets, and pricing.
Product Page: maplearashi.com/ftth-drop-cables
