Telephone cable: overview and dielectric challenges

An overview of the common types of telephone wire and cable used in the United States and of related industry specifications is provided. Common insulating materials and selected electrical and physical parameters are discussed, along with several dielectric-related problems facing the industry. One is to reduce the migration of oil from cable filling gels into the insulation, where it adversely affects the electrical and physical properties. A second problem is how to reduce the overall fire hazard contributed by wire and cable installed in a building. A third problem is to develop twisted-pair copper cables that can handle increasingly higher data rates.<>