Many international and national standards govern optical cable characteristics and measurement methods. Some are listed below, but the list is not exhaustive. Releases are subject to change.
International Standards
Two main groups are working on international standards: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
IEC: The IEC is a global organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic, and related technologies, which serve as a basis for national standardization.
The IEC is composed of technical committees who prepare technical documents on specific subjects within the scope of an application in order to define the related standards. For example, the technical committee TC86 is dedicated to fiber optics, and its subcommittees SC86A, SC86B, and SC86C focus on specific subjects such as: SC86A: Fibers and CablesSC86B: Fiber Optic Interconnecting Devices and Passive ComponentsSC86C: Fiber Optic Systems and Active Devices
ITU: The ITU is an international organization that defines guidelines, technical characteristics, and specifications of telecommunications systems, networks, and services. It includes optical fiber performance and test and measurement applications and consists of three different sectors: Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R)Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T)Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D)
National Standards
In addition to the international standards, countries or union of countries define their own standards in order to customize or fine tune the requirements to the specificity of their country.
European Telecommunications Standards Institute
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) defines telecommunications standards and is responsible for the standardization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) within Europe. These technologies include telecommunications, broadcasting, and their related technologies, such as intelligent transportation and medical electronics.
Telecommunication Industries Association / Electronic Industries Alliance
The Telecommunication Industries Association (TIA) provides additional recommendations for the United States. TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop industry standards for a wide variety of telecommunications products. The committees and subcommittees define standards for fiber optics, user premises equipment, network equipment, wireless communications, and satellite communications.
NOTE: There are many other standard organizations that exist in other countries.
Fiber Optic Standards
By IEC: IEC 61300-3-35: Fibre Optic Connector End Face Visual InspectionIEC 60793-1 and -2: Optical Fibers (includes several parts)IEC 60794-1, -2, and -3: Optical Fiber Cables
By ITU: G.651: Characteristics of 50/125 μm Multimode Graded-index Optical FiberG.652: Characteristics of Single-mode Optical Fiber and CableG.653: Characteristics of Single-mode Dispersion Shifted Optical Fiber and CableG.654: Characteristics of Cut-off Shifted Single-mode Optical Fiber and CableG.655: Characteristics of Non-zero Dispersion Shifted Single-mode Optical Fiber and CableG.656: Characteristics of Non-zero Dispersion Shifted Fiber for Wideband TransportG.657: Characteristics of a Bending Loss Insensitive Single-mode Fiber for Access Networks
Test and Measurement Standards
Generic Test Standards: IEC 61350: Power Meter CalibrationIEC 61746: OTDR CalibrationG.650.1: Definition and Test Methods for Linear, Deterministic Attributes of Single-mode Fiber and CableG.650.2: Definition and Test Methods for Statistical and Non-linear Attributes of Single-mode Fiber and Cable
PMD Test Standards: G.650.2: Definition and Test Methods for Statistical and Non- linear Attributes of Single-mode Fiber and CableIEC 60793 1-48: Optical Fibers—Part 1-48: Measurement Methods and Test Procedures—Polarization Mode DispersionIEC/TS 61941: Technical Specifications for Polarization Mode Dispersion Measurement Techniques for Single-mode Optical FiberIEC 61280-3/TIA/TR-1029: Calculation of PolarizationTIA 455 FOTP-124A: Polarization Mode Dispersion Measurement for Single-mode Optical Fiber and Cable Assemblies by InterferometryTIA 455 FOTP-113: Polarization Mode Dispersion Measurement of Single-mode Optical Fiber by the Fixed Analyzer MethodTIA 455 FOTP-122A: Polarization Mode Dispersion Measurement for Single-mode Optical Fiber by the Stokes Parameter MethodTIA TSB-107: Guidelines for the Statistical Specification of Polarization Mode Dispersion on Optical Fiber CablesTIA 455-196: Guidelines for Polarization Mode Measurements in Single-mode Fiber Optic Components and DevicesGR-2947-CORE: Generic Requirements for Portable Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) Test SetsIEC 61280-4-4: Polarization Mode Dispersion Measurement for Installed LinksTIA 445 FOTP-243: Polarization Mode Dispersion Measurement for Installed Single-mode Optical Fibers by Wavelength-scanning OTDR and State of Polarization Analysis
CD Test Standards: G.650.1: Definition and Test Methods for Linear, Deterministic Attributes of Single-mode Fiber and CableIEC 60793 1-42: Optical Fibers—Part 1-42: Measurement Methods and Test Procedures—Chromatic DispersionIEC 61744: Calibration of Fiber Optic Chromatic Dispersion Test SetsTIA/EIA FOTP-175-B: Chromatic Dispersion Measurement of Single-mode Optical FibersGR-761-CORE: Generic Criteria for Chromatic Dispersion Test SetsGR-2854-CORE: Generic Requirements for Fiber Optic Dispersion Compensators
