Optical fiber and method for making an optical fiber

A method of making an optical fiber, the method comprising:

• assembling a plurality of elongate elements to define an elongate void;
• using a deposition technique to form within the void a material contacting at least some of the elements while maintaining the elongate void;
• and drawing a preform, including the assembly of elongate elements, into an optical fiber, wherein the deposition technique is selected from the group consisting of:
• forming the material in situ from a vapour or liquid phase;
• forming the material with a chemical vapour deposition process;
• forming the material with a thermal chemical vapour reaction;
• forming the material by forming a soot and sintering the soot;
• forming the material with a liquid phase deposition;
• forming the material by providing a sol, allowing the sol to gel, and firing the gel;
• and
• forming the material by providing a liquid material and setting the material.