Abstract: The invention provides a communications cable comprising a plurality of cores through which communications signals can be transmitted, each core comprising a metallic conductor surrounded by a close-fitting sleeve of insulating material which is substantially free of halogenated polymers, the insulating material having a permittivity of no greater than 3, and comprising an outer layer of a non-foamed polymer surrounding a layer of foamed polymer, the outer layer containing a fire retardant, the layer of foamed polymer optionally surrounding a layer of non-foamed polymer, and wherein the region of the insulating material immediately adjacent the metallic conductor contains no fire retardant metal hydroxide and/or carbonate filler; an outer cable sheath disposed radially outwardly of and surrounding the cores, the outer cable sheath constituting a fire protection layer and being formed from an extrudable polymer containing a fire retardant material such as a metal hydroxide and/or carbonate filler; and optional

Abstract: A screened non-coaxial communications cable comprising a plurality of cores through which communications signals can be transmitted. Each core comprises a metallic conductor surrounded by a close-fitting sleeve of insulating material that is substantially free of halogenated polymers. The insulating material has a permittivity of no greater than 3, and is constituted by or contains a layer of foamed polymer. In the region of the insulating material immediately adjacent the metallic conductor, the polymer contains no fire retardant metal hydroxide and/or carbonate layer disposed radially outwardly of and surrounding the plurality of cores. A first fire protection layer comprises a fabric formed from inorganic fibres. A second fire protection layer is disposed radially outwardly of and surrounding the first fire protection layer, and is formed from an extrudable polymer containing a fire retardant metal hydroxide and/or carbonate filler.