Stranded loose tube fiber cables are the standard workhorse cables of the industry. They are preferred for short and long-haul backbone applications and can be installed in-duct or direct-buried. The air-blown micro cable is designed for installations air blown into micro ducts, common in congested areas such as metro applications, where duct space is very limited. These cable designs are compact, lightweight and contain high fiber density to maximize the fiber count available in a small cable diameter. Stranding individual buffer tubes around a central strength member provides a cable without preferential bend. It simplifies midspan entries and enables more efficient preparation and builds into closures.