An optical waveguide fiber comprising:
(i) a Ge free core having an effective area of 90 μm2 to 160 μm2, at a 1550 nm wavelength, and α value 12≦α≦25, said core comprising:
(a) a central core region extending radially outwardly from a centerline to a radius r0≦2 μm, and having a relative refractive index percent profile Δ0(r) wherein −0.1% ≦Δ0(r) ≦0.1%, and wherein the central core region has a maximum relative refractive index, Δ0MAX,
(b) a first annular core region surrounding and directly adjacent to the central core region and extending to an outer radius r1, wherein 4.8 μm ≦r1≦10 μm, and having a relative refractive index percent profile, Δ1(r), and a minimum relative refractive index, Δ2MIN, and the relative refractive index measured at a radius r=2.5 μm being −0.15≦Δ1(r=2.5 μm) ≦0, and Δ0MAX ≧Δ1(r=2.5 μm);
(c) a fluorine doped second annular region surrounding and directly adjacent to the first annular core region and extending to a radius 13 μm ≦r2≦30 μm and having a negative relative refractive index percent profile, Δ2(r), with a minimum relative refractive index Δ2MIN being:
Δ2MIN<Δ1(r=2.5 μm), and −0.7% ≦Δ2MIN≦−0.28%; and
(ii) a cladding surrounding the core and having a relative refractive index percent Δc (r) in % measured relative to pure silica, and Δc (r)=Δ2MIN±0.3%;
wherein the relative refractive index profile of the optical fiber is selected to provide attenuation of no more than 0.175 dB/km at the wavelength of 1550 nm.