Fiber Optic Cables
Fiber optic cable carries data as light pulses through glass fiber, immune to electrical interference and capable of far higher bandwidth over longer distances than copper. NLS sources single-mode and multi-mode fiber cable to IEC 60794 and ITU-T G.652, armored and non-armored, for backbone data links and SCADA/control networks on Saudi industrial and infrastructure projects.
Fiber optic cable moves data by pulsing light through a glass or glass-clad fiber core instead of pushing electrical current through copper, which means it doesn't pick up electromagnetic interference from nearby power cable, doesn't need a grounding scheme for signal integrity, and can carry far more bandwidth over far longer distances before the signal needs repeating. That combination makes it the standard choice for backbone data links on any site with significant electrical noise, which describes most industrial and process facilities.
NLS sources both single-mode fiber (for long-distance, high-bandwidth backbone links, typically ITU-T G.652 grade) and multi-mode fiber (for shorter building or campus-scale runs), to IEC 60794 as the construction and testing standard, in armored (steel tape or wire) and non-armored, loose-tube and tight-buffered constructions depending on route and installation method. Fiber count runs from a handful of cores for a point-to-point link up to higher counts for a site-wide backbone.
On Saudi projects, fiber optic cable carries SCADA and DCS network traffic between control rooms and remote field stations, IT backbone links between buildings on hospital and industrial campuses, and CCTV and security network wiring where distance or electrical noise rules out copper. It's increasingly the default for any new control network build rather than a specialty item, given how much industrial noise exists on a typical process site.
A project team sends fiber count, single-mode or multi-mode requirement, and route length (direct burial, duct, or aerial), and NLS returns a priced quote in USD. Termination and splicing are typically handled by the installing contractor, so NLS quotes the cable itself against the network design the client's IT or instrumentation engineer has already specified.
Specifications
- ✓Fiber type: single-mode (long-distance backbone) and multi-mode (shorter runs)
- ✓Standards referenced: IEC 60794, ITU-T G.652
- ✓Construction: armored (steel tape/wire) or non-armored, loose-tube or tight-buffered
- ✓Fiber count: point-to-point low count through site-wide backbone counts
- ✓Immune to electromagnetic interference from nearby power cable
- ✓Typical use: SCADA/DCS backbone, IT network links, CCTV/security wiring
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between single-mode and multi-mode fiber?+
Single-mode fiber carries signal over much longer distances at higher bandwidth and is the choice for backbone links between buildings or sites. Multi-mode fiber costs less and suits shorter runs within a single building or plant area.
Why choose fiber over copper for SCADA and control networks?+
Fiber is immune to electromagnetic interference from nearby power cable and variable frequency drives, which is a common source of signal noise on industrial sites that copper instrumentation cable has to be carefully routed to avoid.
Does NLS supply armored fiber cable for direct burial?+
Yes. NLS sources both armored (steel tape or wire) and non-armored fiber cable to IEC 60794, matched to whether the route is direct burial, duct, or aerial.