Buy LOOSE TUBE cable Online at Best Price at Nassau National Cable
/collections/loose-tube?page=2
Items in Cart ()
View cart

Loose Tube

Loose tube cables are widely used for long-distance and high-fiber-count applications in challenging environments

A loose tube refers to a type of fiber optic cable construction designed for harsh outdoor environments, such as underground or aerial installations. In this design, optical fibers are placed loosely within semi-rigid protective tubes, which are typically filled with a water-resistant gel or dry blocking material.

A loose tube refers to a type of fiber optic cable construction designed for harsh outdoor environments, such as underground or aerial installations. In this design, optical fibers are placed loosely within semi-rigid protective tubes, which are typically filled with a water-resistant gel or dry blocking material.

 Read more
  • Corning Multi Fiber Altos Figure 8 Loose Tube Gel Free Armored Cable

    Type: ALTOS® figure-8 gel-free
    Gauges: (30)
    Standards: ANSI/ICEA S-87-640
    Temperature: -40 °C to 70 °C

  • Corning Multi Fiber Industrial LSZH Tray Rated LT Gel Free Rodent Resistant Cable

    Type: Corning LSZH™ industrial
    Gauges: (53)
    Standards: (NEC®) OFN-LS, (SUN R...
    Temperature: -40 °C to 70 °C

  • Corning Multi Fiber Mining and Petrochemical Tray Rated LT Gel Free Cable

    Type: Corning dielectric, tray-rated
    Gauges: (78)
    Standards: (NEC®) OFCR-LS, (SUN R...
    Temperature: -50 °C to 75 °C

  • Corning Multi Fiber Industrial LSZH Tray Loose Tube Gel Free Corrugated Armored Cable

    Type: Corning Industrial LSZH™
    Gauges: (76)
    Standards: (NEC®) OFCR-LS, (SUN ...
    Temperature: -40 °C to 70 °C

  • Corning Multi Fiber Plenum Single & Multi Mode Mic 250 2.0 Loose Tube Cable

    Type: Corning MIC® 250 2.0
    Gauges: (24)
    Standards: (NEC®) OFNP, ANSI/ICE...
    Temperature: 0 °C to 70 °C

  • Corning Multi Fiber Single & Multi mode Double Jacket Single Armored Cable

    Type: ALTOS® double-jacket
    Gauges: (72)
    Standards: USDA Rural, Telcordia G...
    Temperature: -40 °C to 70 °C

  • Corning Multi Fiber Single & Multi mode Altos Loose Tube Gel Free Cable

    Type: ALTOS® all-dielectric
    Gauges: (100)
    Standards: (NEC®) Art 770, ANSI/I...
    Temperature: -40 °C to 70 °C

  • Corning Multi Fiber Single & Multi mode Altos Figure-8 Loose Tube Gel Free Cable

    Type: ALTOS® figure-8
    Gauges: (33)
    Standards: Outdoor self, ANSI/ICE...
    Temperature: -40 °C to 70 °C

  • Corning Multi Fiber Single & Multi mode Industrial LSZH Tray Loose Tube Gel Free Cable

    Type: Corning LSZH™
    Gauges: (70)
    Standards: (NEC®) OFN-LS,(SUN RE...
    Temperature: -40 °C to 70 °C

  • Corning Multi Fiber Single & Multi mode LSZH Loose Tube Gel Free Single Jacket Cable

    Type: Corning LSZH™
    Gauges: (70)
    Standards: (NEC®) OFN-LS, (SUN R...
    Temperature: -40 °C to 70 °C

  • Corning Multi Fiber Single & Multi mode Altos Loose Tube Gel Filled Cable

    Type: ALTOS® all-dielectric
    Gauges: (39)
    Standards: USDA Rural, Telcordia G...
    Temperature: -40 °C to 70 °C

  • Corning Multi Fiber Altos Low Temperature LT Gel Free Single Armored Cable

    Type: Corning ALTOS® gel-free
    Gauges: (33)
    Standards: USDA Rural, ANSI/ICEA...
    Temperature: -50º to +70ºC

  • Corning Multi Fiber Altos Low Temperature Loose Tube Gel Free Cable

    Type: Corning ALTOS® gel-free
    Gauges: (33)
    Standards: USDA Rural, Telcordia G...
    Temperature: -50º to +70ºC

  • Corning Multi Fiber Altos Lite Loose Tube Gel Filled Double Armored Cable

    Type: ALTOS® Lite double-jacket
    Gauges: (30)
    Standards: USDA Rural, Telcordia G...
    Temperature:  -40 °C to 70 °C

  • Corning Multi Fiber Altos Loose Tube Gel Filled Double Jacket Cable

    Type: ALTOS® double-jacket
    Gauges: (33)
    Standards: USDA Rural, Telcordia G...
    Temperature: -40 °C to 70 °C

  • Corning Multi Fiber Altos & Altos Lite Gel Free Double Armored Cable

    Type: ALTOS® gel-free triple-jacket
    Gauges: (50)
    Standards: USDA Rural, ANSI/ICEA ...
    Temperature: -40 °C to 70 °C

  • Corning Multi Fiber Single & Multi mode Altos Loose Tube Gel Free Double Jacket Cable

    Type: ALTOS® gel-free double-jacket
    Gauges: (23)
    Standards: RDUP (RUS), ANSI/ICEA...
    Temperature: -40 °C to 70 °C

Loose Tube

About the loose tube

A "loose tube" is a type of fiber optic cable construction designed for harsh outdoor and long-distance applications, such as telecommunications backbones and underground installations. The design protects the delicate optical fibers from environmental stresses like moisture and temperature fluctuations by enclosing them loosely within protective tubes. 

Key characteristics and construction

  • Loose fiber placement: Unlike tight-buffered cables where the fiber is coated directly, loose tube cables house multiple optical fibers in semi-rigid "buffer tubes" that are not tightly bonded to the fibers. This allows the fibers to move freely within the tube.
  • Environmental resilience: The design protects the cable from external forces and environmental factors.
  • Temperature: The loose structure prevents mechanical stress on the fibers from the expansion and contraction of the cable materials in fluctuating temperatures.
  • Moisture: The buffer tubes are often filled with a water-resistant gel or use dry, water-blocking materials to prevent water ingress, making them suitable for wet or humid conditions and underground installations.
  • High fiber count: Loose tube cables can contain a large number of individual fibers, sometimes up to 432, making them ideal for high-capacity networks like data centers and network backbones.
  • Tensile strength: These cables often include strength members, such as aramid yarns or fiberglass rods, to enhance their resistance to tension during installation.
Read More

Typical applications

  • Long-haul telecommunications: The robustness and capacity of loose tube cables make them the standard for long-distance, high-bandwidth communication lines.
  • Outdoor installations: They are designed for aerial, direct-buried, and underwater deployments where they are exposed to weather and physical stress.
  • Campus backbones and duct installations: Loose tube cables are used to connect buildings in campus networks or to run through buried conduits and ducts to protect fibers from damage.
  • Harsh industrial environments: Armored loose tube options are available for industrial settings, such as manufacturing plants or mining operations, to withstand physical damage and chemical exposure. 

Disadvantages and considerations

  • Termination complexity: The gel-filled versions require a messy and time-consuming cleaning process before splicing or terminating the fibers, which is often difficult and costly for smaller indoor jobs.
  • Installation requirements: Because they are not typically compatible with indoor fire codes, loose tube cables must be terminated at the point of entry to a building or be replaced with tight-buffered cables for indoor routing.
Read Less

BestSellers

2-2-2-4 Dyke Quadruplex Aluminum Conductor Underground Direct Burial 600V URD
$1.50
$1.50
4-4-4-4 Tulsa Quadruplex Aluminum Conductor Underground Direct Burial 600V URD
$1.34
$1.34
2-2-4 Stephens Triplex Aluminum Conductor Underground Direct Burial 600V URD
$1.45
$1.45
2 AWG THHN/THWN-2 Aluminum Cable PVC Insulation Nylon Jacket 600V
$0.67
$0.67
4/0 AWG THHN/THWN-2 Aluminum Cable PVC Insulation Nylon Jacket 600V
$1.69
$1.69
4 AWG THHN/THWN-2 Aluminum Cable PVC Insulation Nylon Jacket 600V
$0.57
$0.57
6 AWG THHN/THWN-2 Aluminum Cable PVC Insulation Nylon Jacket 600V
$0.54
$0.54
1 AWG THHN/THWN-2 Aluminum Cable PVC Insulation Nylon Jacket 600V
$0.92
$0.92
1/0 AWG THHN/THWN-2 Aluminum Cable PVC Insulation Nylon Jacket 600V
$1.09
$1.09
2/0 AWG THHN/THWN-2 Aluminum Cable PVC Insulation Nylon Jacket 600V
$1.19
$1.19
250' 2-2-2-4 Dyke Quadruplex Aluminum Conductor Underground Direct Burial 600V URD
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$372.50
$372.50
250' 10 AWG THHN THWN-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$90.00
$90.00
250' 12 AWG THHN THWN-2 Solid Copper Building Wire
250 FT Save $0.00 USD
$57.50
$57.50
250' 12 AWG THHN THWN-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire
250 FT Save $0.00 USD
$62.50
$62.50
250' 10 AWG THHN THWN-2 Solid Copper Building Wire
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$85.00
$85.00
500' 12 AWG THHN THWN-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire
500 FT Save $5.00 USD
$120.00
$120.00
250' 6 AWG THHN THWN-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$265.00
$265.00
250' 8 AWG THHN THWN-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$172.50
$172.50
250' 12/2 W/GRND NM-B 600V Solid Yellow
250 FT Save $7.50 USD
$172.50
$172.50
500' 12 AWG THHN THWN-2 Solid Copper Building Wire
500 FT Save $0.00 USD
$115.00
$115.00
500' 10 AWG THHN THWN-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire
500 FT Save $5.00 USD
$180.00
$180.00
500' 2-2-2-4 Dyke Quadruplex Aluminum Conductor Underground Direct Burial 600V URD
500 FT Save $5.00 USD
$745.00
$745.00
250' 14 AWG THHN THWN-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$45.00
$45.00
3 AWG THHN/THWN-2 Aluminum Cable PVC Insulation Nylon Jacket 600V
$0.60
$0.60
250' 4-4-4 Vassar Triplex Aluminum Conductor Underground Direct Burial 600V URD
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$305.00
$305.00
250 MCM THHN/THWN-2 Aluminum Cable PVC Insulation Nylon Jacket 600V
$2.19
$2.19
250' 6-6-6 Erskine Triplex Aluminum Conductor Underground Direct Burial 600V URD
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$247.50
$247.50
3/0 AWG THHN/THWN-2 Aluminum Cable PVC Insulation Nylon Jacket 600V
$1.46
$1.46
500' 12/2 W/GRND NM-B 600V Solid Yellow
500 FT Save $20.00 USD
$340.00
$340.00
500' 12/2 UF-B Solid Copper Underground Feeder Cable Gray 600V
500 FT Save $35.00 USD
$325.00
$325.00
250' 12/2 UF-B Solid Copper Underground Feeder Cable Gray 600V
250 FT Save $10.00 USD
$170.00
$170.00
1000' 12/2 W/GRND NM-B 600V Solid Yellow
1000 FT Save $50.00 USD
$670.00
$670.00
250' 2-2-2-4 Aluminum Mobile Home Feeder Cable
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$505.00
$505.00
250' 2-2-4 Stephens Triplex Aluminum Conductor Underground Direct Burial 600V URD
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$360.00
$360.00
500' 4/0-4/0-2/0 Sweetbriar Triplex Aluminum Conductor Underground Direct Burial 600V URD
500 FT Save $10.00 USD
$1,620.00
$1,620.00
250' 6/3 UF-B Stranded Copper Underground Feeder Cable Gray 600V
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$965.00
$965.00
250' 2-2-2 Ramapo Triplex Aluminum Conductor Underground Direct Burial 600V URD
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$327.50
$327.50
250' 14/2 W/GRND NM-B 600V Solid White
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$122.50
$122.50
1000' 2-2-2-4 Dyke Quadruplex Aluminum Conductor Underground Direct Burial 600V URD
1000 FT Save $20.00 USD
$1,480.00
$1,480.00
250' 4 AWG THHN THWN-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$407.50
$407.50
250' 2-2-2-4 ALUMINUM SER CABLE
250 FT Save $0.00 USD
$515.00
$515.00
250' 6-6-6-6 ALUMINUM SER CABLE
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$362.50
$362.50
250' 2-2-4-6 Aluminum Mobile Home Feeder Cable
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$477.50
$477.50
250' 1/0-1/0-1/0-2 Notre Dame Quadruplex Aluminum Conductor Underground Direct Burial 600V URD
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$655.00
$655.00
1000' 10 AWG THHN THWN-2 Stranded Copper Building Wire
1000 FT Save $20.00 USD
$350.00
$350.00
250' 4-4-4-6 ALUMINUM SER CABLE
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$437.50
$437.50
8 AWG THHN/THWN-2 Aluminum Cable PVC Insulation Nylon Jacket 600V
$0.49
$0.49
250' 4/0-4/0-2/0 Sweetbriar Triplex Aluminum Conductor Underground Direct Burial 600V URD
250 FT Save $2.50 USD
$812.50
$812.50
1000' 4-4-4-4 Tulsa Quadruplex Aluminum Conductor Underground Direct Burial 600V URD
1000 FT Save $20.00 USD
$1,320.00
$1,320.00
250' 4/0-4/0-4/0-2/0 ALUMINUM SER CABLE
250 FT Save $25.00 USD
$1,167.50
$1,167.50