Flat drop cable with features for enhanced gel retention and stripability

A fiber optic cable having a central longitudinal axis, the fiber optic cable comprising:

• a jacket having a length that extends along the central longitudinal axis of the fiber optic cable, the jacket defining a transverse cross-sectional profile having a thickness and a width, the thickness being smaller than the width, the jacket also defining first and second sides separated by the thickness and first and second rounded ends separated by the width;
• a first reinforcing member embedded in the jacket proximate the first rounded end;
• a second reinforcing member embedded in the jacket proximate the second rounded end;
• a core, including an optical fiber and a cylindrical buffer layer surrounding the optical fiber, positioned within the jacket, wherein the central longitudinal axis extends along within an outer cylindrical perimeter of the buffer layer;
• wherein a transverse cross-sectional profile of the jacket defines a major axis that extends across the width of the jacket and intersects centers of the first reinforcing member, the second reinforcing member and the core;
• wherein the transverse cross-sectional profile of the jacket also defines a minor axis that extends across the thickness of the jacket, the major and minor axes being perpendicular to one another and also being perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the fiber optic cable, the major axis and the minor axis intersecting each other at the central longitudinal axis;
• a first open-sided notch formed in the first side of the jacket, the first open-sided notch extending along the length of the jacket, the first open-sided notch being positioned at a location between the minor axis and the first rounded end, the first open-sided notch being defined by first and second surfaces that are formed at an oblique angle relative to one another and that converge as the first and second surfaces extend into the jacket, wherein the first and second surfaces are connected by a first empty rounded valley at an inner portion of the first open-sided notch, and wherein tearing the jacket at the inner portion of the first open-sided notch leads to access of the buffer layer within the jacket;
• and
• a second open-sided notch formed in the second side of the jacket, the second open-sided notch extending along the length of the jacket, the second open-sided notch being positioned at a location between the minor axis and the second rounded end, the second open-sided notch being defined by third and fourth surfaces that are formed at an oblique angle relative to one another and that converge as the third and fourth surfaces extend into the jacket, wherein the third and fourth surfaces are connected by a second empty rounded valley at an inner portion of the second open-sided notch, wherein tearing the jacket at the inner portion of the second open-sided notch leads to access of the buffer layer within the jacket, wherein the first rounded valley has a first radius of curvature and the second rounded valley has a second radius of curvature, wherein the first radius of curvature is at least 0.1 mm, and wherein the second radius of curvature is at least 0.1 mm.