A fiber optic pigtail is a short length of optical fiber cable with a factory-terminated connector on one end and a bare, exposed fiber on the other. Executive Summary: A fiber optic pigtail is one of the most commonly specified yet least understood components in structured cabling. Get the wrong connector type, the wrong polish, or skip proper fusion splicing technique—and you're looking at elevated signal loss, increased back reflection, and a. Fiber pigtails are simple in appearance, yet essential in function. They are the bridge between fiber optic cables in the field and the equipment or patch panels that manage them. Regardless of the method, the beginning steps are the same. The primary coating must also be stripped away, revealing the bare.