Abstract: An optical cable comprises at least one optical bundle and/or at least one separate optical fibre housed loosely in at least one bore extending lengthwise in an extruded elongate body of rubber or plastics material and, embedded in the extruded elongate body and arranged side by side with the bore or bores, at least one separate elongate reinforcing member. Preferably the bore or bores and the reinforcing member or members extend substantially parallel to the axis of the extruded body and their axes lie in a substantially common plane. Alternatively, a single reinforcing member may extend centrally in the extruded body and a plurality of separate bores be arranged around, preferably helically around, the central reinforcing member.

Abstract: An optical cable comprises at least one optical bundle and/or at least one separate optical fibre housed loosely in and throughout the length of at least one bore extending lengthwise in an extruded elongate body of rubber or plastics material so that at any transverse cross-section of the cable throughout the whole of its length liimited relative movement between the optical fibre and the extruded elongate body can take place when the cable is flexed and, embedded in the extruded elongate body throughout the whole of the length of the body and arranged side by side with the bore or bores, at least one separate elongate reinforcing member. Preferably the bore or bores and the reinforcing member or members extend substantially parallel to the axis of the extruded body and their axes lie in a substantially common plane.