1/5

DATE: Apr. 11, 2011

No.: B-11F0070

Messrs.

Fusion Splicing Loss between

ITU-T G.652.D and G.657.A1 Fiber

Prepared by

A. KUNO

Optical Fiber and Cable System Dept.

Global Telecommunication Strategy
and Marketing Div.

Approved by R. SUZUKI
Manager
Optical Fiber and Cable System Dept.
Global Telecommunication Strategy
and Marketing Div.

B-11F0072 2/5

1. Introduction
As Fiber to the Home has been the growing trend for worlds broadband services, more ITU-T G.657
bend insensitive fiber is introduced and connected from standard single mode fiber for building access.
Mode field diameter of bend insensitive fiber is generally smaller than that of standard single mode
fiber and this difference causes the higher splicing loss between these two fibers compared to the
splicing loss between two fibers of same type. This document shows the fusion splicing loss data
between ITU-T G.652.D and G.657.A1 fiber and discusses the correct method of splicing loss
measurement.

2. Measurement Sample
We have measured fusion splicing loss using the following fiber types;
Product Name

Fiber Type

MFD Specification

FutureGuide-LWP

G.652.D

8.8 9.6 m

FutureGuide-SR15E

G.657.A1

8.2 9.0 m

3. Measurement Method
We have measured fusion splicing loss using two different methods
(1) Cut-back Method
As shown in Figure 1, the fusion splicing loss was measured by cutting fiber at 4 different points (B0,
B1, A0, A1) using power meter. The calculation is shown below.
Loss of Fusion Splicing Point A (dB) = Power Level A0 - Power Level A1
Loss of Fusion Splicing Point B (dB) = Power Level B0 - Power Level B1

Fusion Splicing
Point A
Light
Source

A1

Fusion Splicing
Point B

A0

1550nm

B0

B1
G.657.A1 (No.1~4)

G.652.D (No.1~4)

Power
Meter

G.652.D (No.5~8)

Figure. 1. Cut-back Measurement Method

(2) OTDR Method

As shown in Figure 2, fusion splicing loss was measured from both connector A and B by OTDR.
Splicing Loss measured by OTDR = (Level Difference S1 + Level Difference S2)/ 2
Connector B

Connector A

Fusion Splicing
Point A

Fusion Splicing
Point B

OTDR
G.652.D (No.1~4)

1550nm

G.657.A1 (No.1~4)

Figure. 2. OTDR Measurement Method

OTDR
G.652.D (No.5~8)

1550nm

B-11F0072 3/5

4. Result
(1) Cut-back Method
The result of cut-back measurement is shown in Table 1. The obtained value is average 0.058 dB and
Max 0.100dB.
Table 1 Result of Cut-back Method
Spliced Fiber
G652
1 G657
1

Splice Loss (dB)

0.022

G652
2 G657
2

0.078

G652
3 G657
3

0.093

G652
4 G657
4

0.063

G652
5 G657
1

0.088

G652
6 G657
2

0.025

G652
7 G657
3

0.051

G652
8 G657
4

0.045

G652
1 G657
4

0.037

G652
2 G657
3

0.040

G652
3 G657
2

0.046

G652
4 G657
1

0.096

G652
5 G657
4

0.073

G652
6 G657
3

0.100

G652
7 G657
2

0.031

G652
8 G657
1
Summary
Max
Min
Average

0.035
0.100
0.022
0.058

B-11F0072 4/5
(2) OTDR Method
The result measured by OTDR is shown in Table 2.

Spliced Fiber
G652
1 G657
1
G652
2 G657
2
G652
3 G657
3
G652
4 G657
4
G652
5 G657
1
G652
6 G657
2
G652
7 G657
3
G652
8 G657
4
1 G657
G652
4

2 G657
G652
3

G652
3 G657
2
G652G657
1
G652
5 G657
4
G652
6 G657
3
G652
7 G657
2
G652
8 G657
1

Table 2 OTDR Method Result

Measurement
Level
Direction
difference (dB)
G652
1 G657
1
-0.333
1 G652
1
G657
0.384

Splice
Loss(dB)
0.026

G652
2 G657
2

-0.455

2 G652
2
G657

0.606

G652
3 G657
3

-0.371

G657
3 G652
3

0.557

G652
4 G657
4

-0.488

4 G652
4
G657

0.611

G652
5 G657
1

-0.377

1 G652
G657

0.636

G652
6 G657
2

-0.495

G657
2 G652
6

0.693

G652
7 G657
3

-0.315

3 G652
7
G657

0.473

G652
8 G657
4

-0.268

4 G652
8
G657

0.451

G652
1 G657
4

-0.336

G657
4 G652
1

0.402

G652
2 G657
3

-0.462

G657
3 G652
2

0.571

G652
3 G657
2

-0.434

3
G657G652

0.516

G652G657
1

-0.423

G657
1 G652
4

0.650

G652
5 G657
4

-0.402

G657
4 G652
5

0.638

G652
6 G657
3

-0.465

3 G652
6
G657

0.705

G652
7 G657
2

-0.362

G657
2 G652
7

0.450

G652
8 G657
1

-0.293

G657
1 G652
8

0.398

0.053

MAX
MIN
Average
MAX
MIN
Average
MAX
MIN
Average

-0.268
-0.495
-0.392
0.705
0.384
0.546
0.130
0.026
0.077

0.076
0.093
0.062
0.130
0.099
0.079
0.092
0.033
0.055
0.041
0.114
0.118
0.120
0.044

Summary
G652G657 Level Difference

G657G652 Level Difference

Splice Loss

B-11F0072 5/5
Please note that when using OTDR, splicing loss must be measured from both directions and the
values must be averaged for the actual result.
The reason is that OTDR exaggerate the splicing loss, showing larger step than the actual value.
When measuring from G.652.D to G.657.A1 fiber (larger MFD to smaller MFD), the waveform goes up
(Called gainer) at the splicing point (-0.495 ~ -0.268dB). When measuring from G.657.A1 to G.652.D
fiber (smaller MFD to larger MFD), the waveform goes down at the splicing point (0.384 ~ 0.705dB).
Apparently, fiber cannot gain power in real splicing points and this is due to the abrupt backscattered
light at the splicing point. In order to obtain OTDR loss accurately, the loss should be measured from
bi-direction and the result should be averaged as mentioned in IEC60793-1-40. For further explanation,
please refer to our separated document, B-11F0072.
In this result, the average is 0.077 dB, and maximum 0.130dB.

OTDR Measurement
(Connector B to Connector A)

OTDR Measurement
(Connector A to Connector B)
1
G657

Other G652
Other G652

Goes UP
-0.333dB

Fiber Length

Attenuation

Attenuation

1
G652

1
G657
1
G652
Goes DOWN
0.384dB

Fiber Length

Figure 3. Example of Bi-directional OTDR Measurement

5. Conclusion
In the OTDR measurement, the steps (level difference) of the splicing point between G.652.D and
G.657.A1 are clearly shown. This is because the different MFD of G.652.D and G.657.A1 fiber shows
the exaggerated power difference. Since the difference of the Back scattering power level is larger than
the actual splicing loss, the one-directional OTDR measurement cannot obtain the accurate result and
may cause the difference to the actual splicing loss. In order to obtain accurate splicing loss, the
bi-directional measurement and averaging the results will be recommended.