144-core ribbon optical cable color chart

A 144-core ribbon optical cable uses a 12-color sequence applied to both buffer tubes and individual fibers, allowing precise identification of each fiber.

Color Coding System

For high-count cables like 144-core, the “Tube and Fiber” system is used. Each cable contains multiple buffer tubes, and each tube contains up to 12 fibers. The 12 standard TIA-598-C colors are applied first to the tube and then repeated for the fibers inside the tube .

Standard 12-Color Sequence:

1. Blue
2. Orange
3. Green
4. Brown
5. Slate (Gray)
6. White
7. Red
8. Black
9. Yellow
10. Violet
11. Rose (Pink)
12. Aqua

How to Identify a Fiber

1. Determine the tube number: Divide the fiber number by 12. The quotient indicates the tube, and the remainder indicates the fiber within that tube.
2. Assign tube color: Each tube follows the 12-color sequence. For example, Tube 1 is Blue, Tube 2 is Orange, Tube 3 is Green, Tube 4 is Brown, etc.
3. Assign fiber color: Within the tube, the fiber also follows the 12-color sequence. For example, Fiber #45 in a 144-core cable falls into Tube 4 (Brown) and is the 9th fiber in that tube (Yellow) ( ).

Example Table for First Few Fibers in Tube 1 (Blue Tube)

This pattern repeats for all 12 tubes, covering all 144 fibers. For example, Tube 2 (Orange) contains fibers 13–24, Tube 3 (Green) contains fibers 25–36, and so on .

Additional Notes

• Outer Jacket Color: Indicates fiber type (e.g., Yellow for single-mode, Aqua for OM3/OM4 multimode) but does not affect internal fiber numbering .
• European Standards: Some high-density cables may use a 16-color sequence for specific MPO connectors, but the 12-color system is standard for TIA-598-C compliance .
• Ribbon Identification: In ribbon cables, fibers are grouped in ribbons of 12, and ribbons themselves may be color-coded or marked with stripes to simplify identification .

This system ensures that each fiber in a 144-core cable can be uniquely identified for splicing, testing, and network deployment.