When compared to field-installed rapid termination or epoxy and polish connections, pre-terminated optical pigtails with connectors save time while providing improved performance and reliability. The manner in which fiber optic cables are connected to the system is critical to the. When you build or upgrade a fiber network, the same four words pop up everywhere— fiber optic (bare fiber), pigtail, patch cord, optical cable. They're related, but they are not interchangeable. Mixing them up drives costs higher, increases loss, and slows your rollout. The good news? Once you nail. While both fiber pigtails and fiber optic cables play important roles in optical networks, they have distinct characteristics and applications. If you find yourself perplexed regarding the distinction between these two types of fiber optic assemblies, this article aims. A fiber optic pigtail does consist of a connector on one side and a bare fiber on the other side, which in fact is a specific type of an optical fiber connector that researchers and engineers use in fiber communication systems.