Abstract: An optically observable cable and method of manufacturing the same, the optically observable cable including a conduit for conducting signals and a side-emitting optical fiber disposed on a periphery of the conduit and extending along a length of the conduit, and a cable jacket encapsulating the conduit and the side-emitting optical fiber, wherein the cable jacket is at least partially translucent such that the side-emitting optical fiber is optically exposed through the cable jacket. A method of detecting individual cables from amongst a plurality of signal transmission cables each having a side-emitting optical fiber includes positioning a light source at an interface which houses and end of a cable to be detected, transmitting light from the light source into the interface, and observing light emitted from an axis of a cable to be detected.