Optical fiber cable including optical fibers having intermittently spaced water-blocking bands

Abstract

An optical fiber cable is provided. The optical fiber cable includes a cable jacket having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a central bore, and the outer surface defines an outermost surface of the optical fiber cable. At least one subunit is disposed within the central bore, and each of the at least one subunit includes a subunit jacket surrounding a plurality of optical fibers. At least one optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers in each of the at least one subunit includes bands of water-blocking material that are intermittently spaced along a length of the at least one optical fiber. The water-blocking material is configured to absorb at least 20 grams of water per gram of water-blocking material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.