Terminology » Fiber Optic » Optical Fiber Wavelength Bands: O, E, S, C, L, U-Band Explained

Optical Fiber Wavelength Bands: O, E, S, C, L, U-Band Explained

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Optical fibre communication utilizes specific wavelength bands, frequently referenced by optical engineers. The values presented below are approximate and should be considered as such, as standardized values are still evolving.

Optical Fibre Wavelength Bands

Band descriptorWavelength Range (nm)
O-band (Original)1260 to 1360
E-band (Extended)1360 to 1460
S-band (Short)1460 to 1530
C-band (Conventional)1530 to 1565
L-band (Long)1565 to 1625
U-band (Ultra-long)1625 to 1675

Fibre Optic Cable Power Loss vs Wavelength

Fibre optic cable power loss vs wavelength

The image above illustrates the power loss per kilometer for various optical fibre cables across different wavelength bands, specifically the S-band, C-band, and L-band. This highlights how signal attenuation varies depending on the chosen wavelength.

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