Fiber-optic cable

Step-index optical waveguides are made of multicomponent glass containing a core glass and an outer glass which entirely surrounds the core class. A fiber-optic cable for conducting electromagnetic radiation, contains at least one bundle of individual fibers which encompass the step-index optical waveguides that are made of multicomponent glass containing a core glass and an outer glass that entirely surrounds the core glass on the circumferential wall thereof. These step-index optical waveguides provide great transmission capacity for transmitting data while keeping the transfer characteristics sufficiently durable. Furthermore, the fiber-optic cable is resistant against physical and chemical environmental influences and be protected against radical ambient chemicals. These aims are achieved by the fact that the outer glass of the step-index optical waveguides is provided with a material composition which is largely free from chemical interactions with the core glass when the fibers are drawn and is chemically inactive towards the plastic jacket.