For removal of the protective coating (51) of cables, in particular optical 12-fiber ribbons and other optical multifiber ribbons, a tool divided into several segments (53) is used. Each of the segments have a pair of blades (55) comprising opposed edges and they are displaceable in relation to each other only a predetermined distance. When the tool is applied to a cable and a force is applied to the end thereof in the longitudinal direction of the cable, the protective jacket will be removed in stages, but still in a single operation, so that first a short subsection at the end of the cable is pulled away through some distance and then a short subsection further away from the end of the cable, etc. The force required when using this method is relatively small and the protective jacket can therefore be removed in unbroken pieces without being scraped off or made to particles.