Communication Cables and Related Technologies: Electronic Cabling (EC '98)

This volume presents proceedings from EC'98. The major part of the conference dealt with fibre optic cables, with topics covering new designs and cable formats, very high density fibre cables for the access network and buildings, special cables for particular applications, installation in ducts or as aerial cables, replacement and repair of cables, field testing, PMD measurements and OTDR, network monitoring and fault finding, test equipment, and connector and splicing techniques. Also addressed was the subject of planning, installation and maintenance of cables and associated hardware, covering issues of planning and design using new tools such as artificial intelligence, reliability, preventitive maintenance and strategies for maintenance, installation issues and costs. Materials development was covered, considering subjects including new materials technology, polymeric materials coating and filling technology, fabrication techniques and extrusion, materials related cable performance, smoke and fire performance, and environmental performance. Finally, technology was dealt with, covering new fibre designs such as multicore fibres, fibre fabrication, mechanical strength and reliability, coating technology, colouring of fibre coatings, and new materials.