A fiber optic cable having optical fibers disposed in buffer tubes, the
buffer tubes defining at least two layers generally stranded about a
center area of the cable. The buffer tube layers define a relatively inner
layer of buffer tubes being closer to the center area, and an outer layer
of buffer tubes being relatively further from the center area. The inner
and outer buffer tube layers each having a respective helix value, the
respective helix values being substantially the same. Alternatively, the
respective helix values can be substantially non-equal. In addition, fiber
optic cable systems including balanced helix factors have optical
connections between layers of buffer tubes of the respective cables.
