Tight-buffered optical fiber having improved fiber access

A buffered optical fiber comprising:

• an optical fiber comprising:
• a glass core;
• a cladding layer surrounding the glass core;
• and
• at least one coating layer surrounding the cladding layer, wherein the glass core, the cladding layer, and the at least one coating layer collectively comprise a coated optical fiber;
• and
• a buffer jacket outer layer disposed directly against and surrounding an outer surface of the coated optical fiber to comprise a tight-buffered optical fiber, wherein the buffer jacket outer layer comprises a smooth outer surface, a tensile strength in the range of substantially 1 MPa to substantially 15 MPa, an elongation percentage in the range of substantially 20 percent to substantially 80 percent, and an elastic modulus in the range of substantially 30 MPa to substantially 80 MPa;
• wherein the buffer jacket outer layer comprises an outer wall of the buffered optical fiber and wherein the coated optical fiber is configured to be torn through the outer wall of the buffer jacket outer layer.