You must follow the 2025 fiber optic bend radius standards to protect cable performance. Proper bend radius control ensures the integrity of optical performance and protects the glass. Recommendations for Fiber Optic Cable Installation Where reels are supplied with protective material fitted over the cable, the protection should remain in place until the cable will be installed. During installation, all curvatures should be smooth. While installers are aware of the fundamental importance of minimum bend radii, they often lack the practical know-how to. Ignoring the minimum bend radius for fiber optic cable can result in signal loss, increased attenuation, and long-term reliability issues.