Recommendation ITU-T L.101 describes characteristics, construction and test methods of optical fibre cables for buried application. Note that Recommendation ITU-T L.43, Ed 2.0, was redesignated as ITU-T L.101, Ed 2.0, in February 2016. First, in order to demonstrate sufficient performance of an optical fibre cable, the characteristics that a cable should possess are described in this recommendation. Then, the methods of examining if whether a cable has the required characteristics are described in this recommendation. Therein, detailed performance criteria for a cable are recommended. Recommended technical requirements are detailed by reference to IEC 60794-3-11 on outdoor optical fibre cables for duct, directly buried, and lashed aerial applications. Changes and additions to these requirements suitable to the directly buried cable application are recommended herein. Required conditions may differ from the installation environment. Therefore, instances where agreement on detailed conditions should be determined between customer and manufacturer are stated. This version of Recommendation L.101 adds the electrical continuity test for continuous metallic elements. Scope, References, Fibre dimensions, Annex A, and Bibliography are updated.