Traceable cable with side-emitting optical fiber and method of forming the same

A method of forming a traceable cable that includes at least one data transmission element and a jacket at least partially surrounding the at least one data transmission element, the method comprising:

• forming an optical fiber by:
• passing a glass core through a first die block that applies a UV-curable cladding onto the glass core to form an optical fiber, wherein the cladding has a lower index of refraction than the glass core;
• drawing the optical fiber past a laser, wherein the laser is pulsed as the optical fiber is drawn past the laser to selectively ablate portions of the cladding, the laser ablated portions defining scattering sites configured to allow the optical fiber to scatter light therefrom;
• and
• passing the optical fiber through a second die block after selectively ablating portions of the cladding with the laser, wherein the second die block applies an acrylic coating over the cladding;
• and
• at least partially embedding the optical fiber within the jacket so that the optical fiber extends along at least a portion of a length of the cable.