Abstract: An optical fiber ribbon in which the location of a particular fiber contained in the ribbon can be easily identified in the field. The optical fiber ribbon includes a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel with and adjacent one another, and a ribbon matrix bonded to the outer coatings and encasing the plurality of optical fibers, wherein the ribbon matrix includes indicia on an outside thereof for directionally identifying a particular one of the optical fibers. According to a first aspect of the invention, the indicia includes triangle, with an apex of the triangle pointing in the direction of the particular fiber. Alternatively, according to a second aspect of the invention, the indicia includes an arrow pointing in the direction of the particular fiber. The indicia is preferably repeated at regular intervals along the length of the ribbon to allow the particular fiber to be identified along the entire length of the ribbon.

Abstract: A buffered optical fiber ribbon cable includes at least one optical fiber ribbon cable, which has parallel optical fibers encased in a ribbon matrix sheath, and a ribbon buffering layer surrounding the optical fiber ribbon cable. The ribbon matrix sheath is at least partially molecularly bonded to outer coatings of the optical fibers and surrounds the parallel optical fibers, thereby holding the optical fibers immediately adjacent one another. The material of the ribbon buffering layer is preferably UV curable resin or thermoplastic material. Also, the ribbon buffering layer material may further contain imbedded reinforcement fibers for strengthening the ribbon buffering layer. The ribbon buffering layer is made of a material that allows the buffered optical fiber ribbon cable to be installed in environments independent of any additional protective cable covering.