Abstract: An optical cable unit has a metal tube with a longitudinal laser-welded seam and at least one optical waveguide in the interior of the metal tube. The metal tube has a first inner layer and a second outer layer, where the first inner layer is made from copper and the second outer layer is made from austenitic steel. The longitudinal seam of both layers is laser welded and the seams of the layers are in superimposed alignment, where the laser welding is performed by a CO2 laser.

Abstract: An optical submarine cable with a sheath 8 and a core is proposed. It comprises optical fibers 1 which are enclosed in a metal tube 3. The tube is disposed near the axis of the cable. The cable comprises at least two metal tubes 3 and the tubes are SZ-stranded.

Abstract: A method for producing an optical cable with a metal tube and at least one optical fiber arranged in the metal tube, wherein optical fiber(s) are inserted into a slotted tube, the longitudinal slot in the slotted tube is welded, and the diameter of the welded tube is reduced. After the reducing operation, the welded tube is gripped by a draw-off device and conveyed in the finishing direction and wound up onto a draw-off disk. Between the draw-off device (10) and the draw-off disk (11), a force which causes elastic elongation of the metal tube (13) in the finishing direction is applied by the draw-off disk (11), and the extent of the elastic elongation is regulated through this force.