Multiple optical pathway fiber optic cable

A polymer fiber having multiple optical pathways set in a single cladding. The optical pathwaymultiple pathway fiber may be provided with connectors and thereby be used as a fiber cable for use with an interconnect. The optical pathwaymultiple pathway fiber may be constructed using a preform in a draw process. Alternatively, a novel vacuum draw method may be used in which optical pathway and cladding are mated and melded together during the draw process by creating a reduced pressure zone between the optical pathway and the cladding. A sacrificial substrate or cladding may be added around or along one side of the optical pathwaymultiple pathway fiber, and the combined cladding and fiber are drawn using a draw process. This cladding is removed, or partly removed, after the draw process. In this manner, the optical pathwaymultiple pathway fiber may have highly irregular and noncircular cross sections.