An optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a glass core extending from a centerline to a radius R.sub.1 wherein R.sub.1 is greater than about 5 .mu.m; a glass cladding surrounding and in contact with the core, the cladding comprising: (i) a first annular region extending from the radius R.sub.1 to a radius R.sub.2, the first annular region comprising a radial width, W.sub.2=R.sub.2-R.sub.1, (ii) a second annular region extending from the radius R.sub.2 to a radius R.sub.3, and comprising a radial width, W.sub.3=R.sub.3-R.sub.2, and (iii) a third annular region surrounding the second annular region and extending from the radius R.sub.3 to an outermost glass radius R.sub.4; wherein the core comprises a maximum relative refractive index, .DELTA..sub.1MAX, relative to the third annular region, and wherein .DELTA..sub.1MAX is greater than about 0.1% and less than about 0.3%; the first annular region has a refractive index delta .DELTA..sub.2(r) is less than about 0.025%; wherein the second annular region comprises a minimum relative refractive index, .DELTA..sub.3MIN, relative to the third annular region;wherein .DELTA..sub.1MAX>.DELTA..sub.2MAX>.DELTA..sub.3MIN, and .DELTA..sub.2MIN>.DELTA..sub.3MIN<0; andwherein the core and the cladding provide a fiber with cable cutoff less than 1500 nm, and an effective area at 1550 nm greater than 95 .mu.m.sup.2 and bend loss of .ltoreq.0.5 dB/turn on a 20 mm diameter mandrel.