Abstract: In an optical cable comprising at least one optical bundle, individual fibres of the or each optical bundle and/or at least two fibre-groups each comprising an assembly of some of the fibres of the or each optical bundle being wholly or partially embedded in and mutually separated by encapsulating material throughout substantially the whole length of the bundle; at least one separate elongate non-optical reinforcing member; and, surrounding the bundle or bundles and the reinforcing member or members, an outer protective sheath, the or each optical bundle is loosely housed in a bore in the protective sheath, the or each reinforcing member is embedded in the sheath alongside the bore, each optical fibre has a continuous abrasion-resistant coating of a hardened material and the encapsulating material is of such a nature that, when appropriately treated, it can be removed from between the embedded fibres and/or the embedded fibre-groups at an end part of the cable or it can be softened to such an extent as to per