Identification of the Single-mode Optical Fiber Manufacturer from the Fiber Characteristics

The aim of the work is to evaluate the possibility of determining the optical fiber category and manufacturer from the fiber characteristics. To this end, the geometric and optical characteristics of 15 samples of single-mode optical fibers of five subcategories produced by eight different manufacturers were measured. The obtained results have demonstrated that the identification of the optical fiber manufacturer should be based on a comprehensive analysis of a number of parameters, rather than based on a single parameter. It is shown that for the above-mentioned identification purposes, the fiber optical characteristics are more suitable than the geometric measurement data and analysis of IR absorption spectra. A method for identifying the fiber manufacturer based on the measured optical and geometric parameters of the fiber is proposed. The method can be used by both telecom operators and optical fiber cable or optical fiber manufacturers in order to determine the manufacturer of the optical fiber used in the final product, e.g., in a fiber optical cable.