Abstract: An optical communication cable comprises one or more cores of light-transmitting optical fibers substantially decoupled mechanically from the rest of the cable structure. Surrounding each core is an inner jacket which forms a loose-fittng enveloping structure about the core. Surrounding the inner jacket or plurality of inner jackets is an outer jacket which is reinforced with primary strength members to carry expected tensile loads and to thereby relieve the fibers of the core or cores as cable strength members. The core fibers are also buckled into a slackened state under no-load conditions to allow for stress-free elongation of the core fibers during tensile pulling of the cable. In one embodiment, each core comprises linear arrays of optical fibers packaged in a plurality of ribbon structures which are stacked and helically stranded for further strain-relief. The arrays are specifically configured to permit mass cable splicing.