RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, a leading manufacturer of fiber optic cable, air-blown fiber systems, interconnect solutions, and fusion splicing equipment, announced today the introduction of the industry's first and only "flexible" 100% Gel-free Indoor-Outdoor Ribbon Cable.

Featuring a cross-ply strength element sheath, the new indoor-outdoor cable eliminates preferential bend directions allowing the cable to bend in every direction for greater flexibility when installing in tight premise locations and in more complex fiber pathways. The Sumitomo cable features a bend diameter that is over 40% smaller than that of competitive gel-free indoor-outdoor ribbon cables, providing users with approximately twice the flexibility for quicker and easier installations.

The riser-rated cable eliminates the need for installers to switch from an outside plant to a premise cable, since it can be installed from the last termination in the outside plant environment into the building, allowing for a seamless, splice-free fiber flow. By incorporating water-blocking yarns into the patent-pending cable design, Sumitomo has removed the need for gels in both the cable's core and central tube, further reducing the installers' cable preparation time and labor costs - resulting in increased productivity, significantly lower project costs, and faster deployment.

"Sumitomo Electric Lightwave is pleased to expand its ribbon fiber cable product line, which is built upon our leadership in ribbon fiber technology - a benchmark in the industry for quality and reliability," comments Gary Bishop, Sumitomo's director of product management. "The launch of our Dry Indoor-Outdoor Ribbon Cable is one of many new products introduced recently to support Sumitomo's commitment to bringing better and more cost effective solutions to its customers."

Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corp.