ANALYSIS & OPINION: FIBRE & FIBRE OPTIC CABLE
THE SIMPLE LIFE
A look at how the right technique goes a long way, and how operators could benefit from simplified microduct network deployments
SCOTT MODHA
A
s emerging technologies such as the Internet of Tings (IoT), 5G and virtual and augmented reality increase at an exponential rate, the
need to lay fibre to the doors of residential premises and businesses at the same speed has never been greater. As a ‘call to action’ in response to these
demands, governments across the globe are introducing broadband plans to ensure superfast broadband can be delivered straight to the homes and offices of end-users. However, it is the network operators who
are feeling the heat the most – as the pressure builds to place more fibre into their networks. In light of this, they are looking for easier and faster ways to reach subscribers with full fibre. Tis must be balanced with ensuring installation and labour costs are kept to a minimum and their existing deployments and assets can be protected from damage.
Building blocks For operators, the proliferation of new and emerging technologies not only presents
26 FiBRE SYSTEMS n Issue 24 n Summer 2019
opportunities, but challenges too. On the one hand, by embracing these technologies, they can expand their customer offerings to new services and applications, which in turn will generate additional revenue. On the other hand, they can’t monetise these technologies if their networks can’t support or enable them. If operators are to ensure their networks can
keep up to speed with emerging trends, they must lay the foundations of a modern network. When it comes to optical fibre networks, each fundamental building block must be carefully considered: the optical fibre cables; the connectivity to join and route them; the active equipment to ‘light’ the fibres and a duct or microduct system to contain and facilitate installation; repair and removal/replacement of the cables. However, fibre optic cables oſten come with
a heſty price tag, so it is essential that they are protected during installation. Tis, and the combination of the need to install them by air-blowing, has given rise to the popularity of microducts. A single microduct is a flexible pipe with
an external diameter between 3 and 16mm, designed to accommodate a single optical fibre cable or unit. Tis enables a fibre product to be installed by pulling, pushing, or more normally by air-blowing. Tanks to these abilities, microducts are emerging as a solution which can provide operators with a pathway to quick, easy, clean and cost-effective installations, via blown solutions.
Risk reduction While the benefits of microducts are clear, it is essential that operators adopt solutions which can enable minimal disruption to their existing networks and services. With so much at risk, they must ensure that the number of failure points across their network are kept to a minimum. No mater how good, or pricey they are, unnecessary, purely in-line joints can be a failure point, and an approach that can overcome these problematic joints will help to ensure that networks run as smoothly as possible. Finding a way to reduce the time taken and ease the sheath stripping process is
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