<P> Optical fiber connectors are used to join optical fibers where a connect / disconnect capability is required . Due to the polishing and tuning procedures that may be incorporated into optical connector manufacturing, connectors are generally assembled onto optical fiber in a supplier's manufacturing facility . However, the assembly and polishing operations involved can be performed in the field, for example, to make cross-connect jumpers to size . </P> <P> Optical fiber connectors are used in telephone company central offices, at installations on customer premises, and in outside plant applications to connect equipment and cables, or to cross-connect cables . </P> <P> Most optical fiber connectors are spring - loaded, so the fiber faces are pressed together when the connectors are mated . The resulting glass - to - glass or plastic - to - plastic contact eliminates signal losses that would be caused by an air gap between the joined fibers . </P> <P> Every fiber connection has two values: </P>

How many fiber-optic cores are typically associated with an st connector