Low attenuation optical fiber cable with small sized active particles

A densely packed, low bend loss optical fiber cable comprising:

• an outer cable jacket;
• a plurality of buffer tubes surrounded by the cable jacket, each buffer tube includes an inner surface defining a channel having a diameter, D1, and an outer surface facing an inner surface of the cable jacket;
• a plural number, N, of optical fibers, located within the channel of each buffer tube and surrounded by the inner surface of the buffer tube, wherein each optical fiber has an outer diameter, D2;
• and
• small sized active particles located within the channel of each buffer tube such that at least some of the active particles are located in spaces between the optical fibers, wherein an average maximum outer dimension of the active particles within each buffer tube is ≤50 microns;
• wherein the N optical fibers are densely packed within each buffer tube such that a diameter ratio parameter, Ω, is defined as the ratio D1/D2, and is 2.25+0.143(N)≤Ω≤1.14+0.313(N);
• wherein each of the plural number of optical fibers comprise:
• a mode field diameter of ≥8.6 microns at 1310 nm;
• a cable cutoff of less than 1260 nm;
• a macrobend loss of less than 0.5 dB/turn at 1550 nm for a mandrel diameter of 20 mm.