Telecommunications Technician how-to

How to Fusion Splice Fiber

Good splices keep loss low.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Quick answer

Good splices keep loss low. In short: strip; clean; cleave, then complete the remaining steps below.

Step by step

  1. Strip the fiber coating.

  2. Clean the fiber with alcohol.

  3. Cleave the fiber precisely.

  4. Place fibers in the splicer and run the splice.

  5. Protect the splice with a sleeve.

  6. Test loss with an OTDR or power meter.

Safety reminders for telecommunications technicians

  • Use ladder safety and fall protection
  • Never look into active fiber
  • Dispose of fiber scraps safely
  • Watch for electrical hazards

Fiber optic cable · Splice · Fusion splicer · OTDR · Coax · ONT: see the full telecommunications technician glossary.

More telecommunications technician how-to guides

Learn this in Telecommunications Technician trainingTake the practice test
Enroll in trainingTake fit quiz