COMPRESSORS & COMPRESSED AIR BOOSTING THE BROADBAND ROLLOUT
process. This involves pushing the cable through a microduct to the property from a nearby toby box using high-speed compressed air, which is then caught on the other side, connecting the home. Though this process may sound simple,
several logistical barriers exist that can prevent under-pressure technicians from quickly completing this task. The compressor used for air provision is one such obstacle, with many models lacking internal cooling systems commonly used for blowing-in. Without this key component, the risk of the
compressor overheating increases, meaning the tool must be regularly rested while it cools down. For technicians already on tight schedules, this unplanned downtime stemming from the lack of a 100% duty cycle can interrupt the work in hand and quickly snowball into a larger problem. Taking into account this flaw and
Nicol Low, COO for Vert Technologies, explores how compressor innovation can address inefficiency problems and keep the UK’s fibre broadband rollout on track
purpose due to rising demand for data-intensive technologies, the installation of faster fibre-to-the-home cabling is a top priority for internet service providers. Yet with technicians relying on compressors that are prone to excessive noise, overheating and lower duty cycles, blowing-in installations remain inefficient. Worryingly, this backlog is only set to increase. According to figures from the UK’s Office of
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National Statistics, 35.9% of employees worked from home last year – a rise of 9.4 percentage points from 2019. These flexible home-office arrangements are likely to remain in place, and with fast internet speeds now a necessity for many workers, repercussions will arise elsewhere. Specifically, what does this increasing demand for data mean in a country where only 15% of homes are currently connected to superfast fibre-optic broadband? This hybrid working model is clearly a
challenge for the UK’s current broadband infrastructure, which is predominantly copper-based and built for older technologies such as landline telephones and cable television. With that in mind, statistics from a February 2021 Ipsos MORI
10 NOVEMBER 2021 | PROCESS & CONTROL
ith the United Kingdom's copper communications network increasingly becoming unfit-for-
report into the Government’s Superfast Broadband Programme made for interesting reading. Specifically, the document showed that while 96% of UK homes can access superfast broadband, previous Ofcom reports calculated that 11 million compatible households are missing out on this technology.
Compressor has been designed to supply pulse- free air at 100% duty for continuous running
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Gigabit’ pledge that all UK homes will be able access to gigabit-capable broadband by 2025, questions can be asked about how to connect these hard-to-reach homes. Compounding this problem is the current shortage of skilled fibre technicians, with their full schedules and ensuing lack of availability hampering any wide-ranging rollout effort, the efficiency of the installation process is more critical than ever. Critical to the installation of fibre-to-the- home (FTTH) technology is the ‘blowing-in’
The Conical Rotary Placed alongside the Government’s ‘Project ”
additional time pressures, it is clear that new compressor technologies are required to ensure rollout deadlines are met. One innovation that could solve this performance issue is the Conical Rotary Compressor (CRC) solution from Vert Technologies. Consisting of one rotor placed inside the
other, with both turning in the same direction to compress air as it travels down the screws, the CRC provides the ideal pressure and flow levels required for blowing-in applications without compromising on noise. Fitted into units such as Vert’s A200
portable compressor, which features a variable speed drive for a quick response to varying pressure and flow requirements during the installation, the CRC has been designed specifically to supply pulse-free air at 100% duty for continuous running. In turn, these features can increase the productivity of the installation, removing the need for regular downtime that can hamper traditional compressor models, as well as preventing opportunities for air gapping that can disrupt the blowing-in process. This productivity and efficiency was demonstrated during customer trials where a 35% improvement was noted in the installation times. The need to ensure the UK has a
broadband network fit for current and future challenges necessitates innovation at all stages of the installation process. Key to this is what type of compressor is being used when blowing in fibre optic cabling to homes. Using innovative systems that allow for 100% duty cycles is a crucial aspect of ensuring under-pressure ISP technicians can meet ambitious deadlines, so should therefore be considered a priority for the rollout, rather than a preference.
Vert Technologies
www.vertrotors.com
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