Fibre optic cable price depends on what is being bought: bulk cable is priced per metre by fibre type, fibre count and construction, while terminated assemblies are priced per piece by connectors, polish, length, testing and quantity. No single rate applies. Accurate prices come from a written specification, and Radix Fibrotech quotes terminated assemblies in writing on request.
Why fibre optic cable price has no single figure
Searches for fibre optic cable price, OFC cable price or fiber optic cable price per meter cover very different products. A drum of 24-fibre armoured outdoor cable, a 2 m LC duplex patch cord and a 300 m tactical reel with ruggedised connectors are all fibre optic cable, but their costs are built from different materials and different amounts of skilled work.
Price lists published online usually describe one narrow product at one quantity, often without the test data, packing or delivery terms that come with it. Treat them as evidence that a product exists, not as a benchmark for your own specification. The useful approach is to understand which factors move the price, then fix each of them in the enquiry so every supplier quotes the same thing.
Per-metre and per-piece prices are not comparable
Bulk cable is sold by length, per metre or per kilometre, from a drum. The price covers the fibre, buffer, strength members, armour if any, and the sheath. Nothing is terminated, so the buyer still pays separately for splicing or connectorisation, pigtails, enclosures and field testing.
A terminated assembly is sold per piece. Its price has a fixed part (connectors, ferrules, boots, termination, polishing, end-face inspection, loss testing, labelling and packing) and a length-dependent part (the cable). On a short patch cord the fixed part is most of the price. On a long reel the cable dominates.
Dividing an assembly price by its length gives a misleading per-metre figure: a 1 m cord will look many times more expensive per metre than a 100 m assembly built with the same connectors. Compare bulk cable with bulk cable, and assemblies with assemblies of the same configuration and length. The fibre optic patch cords page lists the choices that define a cord before it can be priced.
Factors that set the price
| Factor | Why it changes the price | What to state in the RFQ |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre type | Higher-bandwidth multimode grades such as OM4 and OM5 cost more per metre than OM3 or OS2. | The grade, for example OS2 9/125 µm or OM4 50/125 µm. |
| Fibre count | More fibres mean more material and, on assemblies, more terminations and tests. | Fibres per cable and per breakout leg. |
| Construction | Tight buffer, loose tube, ribbon and breakout cables use different materials and terminate differently. | Construction type and outer diameter. |
| Armour | Steel tape, steel wire or non-metallic armour adds material, weight and process steps. | Armour type, or none. |
| Jacket and fire rating | PVC, LSZH, outdoor PE, riser and plenum compounds differ in cost, and rated cables carry test costs. | The rating required and the standard or code it refers to. |
| Connector type | Part cost ranges widely from a simplex LC to an MPO, MIL or expanded beam connector. | Connector at each end, and gender for MPO. |
| Polish | APC polishing takes more process time than UPC. | UPC or APC at each end. |
| Length | The cable share rises with length, and long assemblies need reels or drums. | Length and tolerance. |
| Testing and test report | Insertion loss only, insertion and return loss, and end-face images each add handling. | Tests, wavelengths, limits and report format. |
| Labelling | Printed serial or circuit labels at both ends add work per piece. | Label text, position and type. |
| Packing | Individual bags, reels, drums and export crates cost differently. | Packing per line item. |
| Quantity | Set-up time is spread across identical pieces, so many of one configuration costs less each than many configurations. | Quantity per configuration and any call-off schedule. |
| Delivery terms | Freight, insurance, duty and risk sit with seller or buyer depending on the Incoterm. | Incoterm and named place. |
Bulk OFC cable: what moves the per-metre rate
In India "OFC" usually means outdoor optical fibre cable bought by the metre or by the drum for telecom, utility and campus networks. The per-metre rate rises with fibre count (2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48 fibres and above). It also depends on loose-tube construction (unitube or multitube), on armour (corrugated steel tape where rodent and crush protection is needed, or non-metallic for routes near power lines), and on the installation type: duct, direct buried or aerial self-supporting (ADSS).
Drum length matters as well. A route built from one continuous drum avoids the splice closures and splicing labour that short lengths need, even when the short lengths cost less per metre. State the drum length you need and whether cut lengths are acceptable. The OFC cable guide explains the constructions in more detail.
How to compare fibre quotes like for like
Two quotes are comparable only when they describe the same product, tested the same way. Before ranking prices, check each quote for these points:
- Loss limits. Maximum insertion loss per connector or per mated pair, and minimum return loss, stated as numbers. "Low loss" without a figure is not a limit.
- Test method. The wavelengths tested (for example 1310 and 1550 nm for single-mode, 850 and 1300 nm for multimode), the reference method, and whether every fibre is tested or only a sample.
- Polish and inspection. UPC or APC on each end, and whether end faces are inspected against IEC 61300-3-35 before shipment.
- Length and tolerance. The same nominal length and the same tolerance. A wide tolerance allows less cable to be used.
- Components. Fibre grade, cable construction and, if it matters to you, the connector make.
- Inclusions. Test reports, labels, packing, freight and taxes.
The fibre loss budget guide shows how connector loss limits feed into the link budget, which tells you how tight the limits on the quote need to be.
Hidden costs of the cheapest option
The lowest unit price can produce the most expensive link. These costs do not appear on the quote:
- Re-terminating connectors that arrive scratched, contaminated or out of limit, with the technician time and test equipment that involves.
- Links that fail acceptance testing, delaying handover while cords are traced and replaced.
- Intermittent faults in service from poor polish or weak strain relief, which take longer to find than a clean failure.
- Unlabelled or mislabelled cords that slow installation in a dense rack.
- Freight and duty paid twice when a shipment has to be replaced.
A per-fibre test report is the evidence you need to reject a bad batch on arrival, and the baseline for diagnosing a link years later. Leaving it out of the specification to save money removes both.
Export orders and Indian invoices: Incoterms and GST
For export, the price depends on where cost and risk pass to the buyer. Incoterms 2020, published by the International Chamber of Commerce, define this. EXW and FCA leave main freight with the buyer. CPT and CIP include carriage to a named place, and CIP adds insurance. DAP delivers to a named place at destination, and DDP adds import duty and clearance. FOB and CIF are sea freight terms; for air freight, FCA, CPT or CIP are the usual choices. Ask every supplier to quote on the same Incoterm and named place, or the prices cannot be compared.
On Indian invoices GST is charged on the taxable value. Check whether each quote is inclusive or exclusive of GST, that the HSN code and GST rate are stated, and that the supplier's GSTIN appears, since input tax credit depends on a valid tax invoice. Freight, packing and test charges should be listed separately or stated as included.
How to get an accurate quote fast
The fastest route to a firm price is a specification that leaves nothing to assume. For each line give the fibre type and count, cable construction and jacket rating, connector and polish at each end, length and tolerance, tests and limits, labelling, packing, quantity and delivery terms. A drawing helps for breakouts and harnesses. The guide to writing an RFQ for fibre assemblies sets this out as a checklist you can copy.
Radix Fibrotech quotes in writing on request, against the specification you send. Use the request a quote page, and say if you would like an alternative construction priced alongside, for example a different jacket that still meets the rating you need.
Questions buyers ask
How much does fibre optic cable cost per metre?
There is no single per-metre price. Bulk cable rates depend on fibre count, fibre type, armour, sheath and drum length, and they move with raw material costs. Ask several suppliers to quote the same specification and drum length, and compare bulk cable rates only with other bulk cable rates.
Why is a short patch cord so expensive per metre?
Most of a patch cord's cost is fixed: two or four connectors, termination, polishing, inspection, testing, labelling and packing. The cable itself is a small share on a short cord. Dividing the price by the length makes short cords look expensive, so compare cords of the same length and configuration.
What should a fibre optic cable quote include?
A useful quote states the full specification it is priced against, the loss limits and test method, what test report is supplied, labelling and packing, the Incoterm and named place, and whether taxes are included. If any of these are missing, ask before comparing the quote with others.
Is GST included in fibre optic cable prices in India?
It depends on the supplier, so check the wording. A quote may be inclusive or exclusive of GST. It should state the HSN code and the GST rate, and the tax invoice must carry the supplier's GSTIN if you intend to claim input tax credit.
Does Radix Fibrotech publish a price list?
Radix builds assemblies to the customer's drawing and specification, so prices are quoted per enquiry rather than listed. Send the specification through the request a quote page and Radix will reply with a written quote.