FEATURE: FIBRE & 5G
THE BIGGEST COST ASSOCIATED WITH PUTTING FIBRE NETWORKS IN THE GROUND IS ACTUALLY DIGGING UP ROADS
Shilton, in hospitals for things like processing large image files of x-rays or in schools as technology integrates itself into the classroom.
Flexible friend Shilton went on to express that the flexibility and potential for future scalability of dark fibre networks, coupled with high performance means investments in dark fibre could play an instrumental role in the UK’s digital future. ‘A key consideration for any organisation investigating dark fibre,’ he explained, ‘is that it isn’t available everywhere, but can still serve some of the hardest-to-reach, rural areas of the UK.’ A local council or public sector organisation,
network services behind,’ continued Shilton. ‘While commercial internet services may be enough for some applications, there is a high amount of network traffic as huge quantities of data are sent down the network by multiple users. Tis causes traffic to bounce around a lot before reaching its destination. However, if an organisation owns a private dark fibre network then they are the only ones creating network traffic. Tis could be critical for the likes of healthcare and blue light services that have mission critical applications hosted on the network that rely on high network performance and the ability to send and receive information quickly.’ In addition to improving the flow of network
traffic, investing and lighting a dark fibre network gives the ability for organisations to transfer high volumes of data, securely. Fibre cables, when lit, can deliver speeds up to and in excess of 100Gb/s. As the manager of the network, organisations can optimise this with the right equipment to fit their connectivity needs. Tis will become increasingly important, said
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for example, can explore the potential of dark fibre for its use in fixed wireless access (FWA). Te dark fibre can be lit to make up the essential fibre backhaul layer for FWA. Broadband connectivity is then provided wirelessly, transmited via a base station, to communities that have historically been poorly served by outdated network infrastructure. ‘While navigating these options and, importantly, deciding on the right supplier to partner with might at first seem daunting,’ said Shilton, ‘new government frameworks have simplified the procurement process. Frameworks like RM3808 and RM6095 for the procurement of network services and fibre optic infrastructure services respectively, lists government accredited suppliers that will provide competitive solutions that can be tailored to an organisation’s specific needs.’ Underpinning all this, Shilton believes it
is crucial that public sector organisations understand both their connectivity needs and the needs of the local communities they serve. Further to that, it’s essential that organisations understand how connectivity can be used as a springboard to support businesses functions. ‘Organisations will save a significant amount of time, money and effort in the long run,’ he said, ‘if they can ensure their network is future- proofed to accommodate for technological advances and evolutions that may require increased network capacity.’
Cable development Looking at the actual fibre cables themselves,
Prysmian Telecoms UK product manager Adam Ashenden has a view on the direction of travel
for technical development. ‘Legislation has made existing cable infrastructure (mainly legacy British Telecom ducts and poles) available to all network builders,’ he said, ‘but much of this infrastructure is already at or near capacity. Even for those organisations building their own new infrastructure, space is money.’ Te focus for all major product manufacturers
in the fibre optic market is now on reducing the diameter of fibre optic cable. Tis includes reducing the size of components and connectivity and implementing novel installation methods to maximise the capacity of existing infrastructure. ‘Tere are probably limits on just how small it is possible to go,’ pondered Ashenden, ‘but we don’t think we have reached those levels yet. Te speed of development is astonishing. In 1990 we were looking at a 12-fibre cable with a diameter of 2.5mm. In 2020 the same capacity can be provided in a cable with a diameter of just 0.9mm.’
Mini-might Geting to this point has required intense product development from vendors. Tis is not only of the fibres themselves but also the sheathing materials and central strength member. High-performance fibres can now be supplied down to 180µm, while research teams are studying materials down to the chemical composition level in order to further reduce cable diameter without affecting performance and capacity. ‘Maintaining performance and capacity
requires further innovation to accommodate the practicalities of installation into already crowded infrastructure,’ said Ashenden. ‘As cable is shoe-horned into smaller spaces and as the space available for splice trays is also reduced, so the flexibility of cable, and its resistance to performance loss through cable bending is key. It’s a fairly obvious calculation that the greater the bend resistance of the cable, the more the bend radius of splice trays can be reduced: connectivity devices become smaller, saving even more valuable space.’ Tis has, Ashenden continued, had a knock-
on effect for the development of connectivity components – all of which need to follow product innovation in cable design to produce an overall system that is geting smaller all the time. ‘Joints, terminations, junction boxes are all the subject for further product design innovation to maximise on the miniaturisation of the cables.’ Te final piece of the puzzle, Ashenden went
on, is of course, the installation itself. In the UK and northern Europe the preferred method for maximising the capacity of existing infrastructure is to use a blown fibre technique. Eliminating the need to excavate underground ducts, cable blowing allows cable to be installed into existing ducts at great speed – typically some 40m per minute. ‘Specially designed cables and installation equipment is required,’ he explained, ‘but the speed and efficiency of the system has led to huge uptake in markets where the use of legacy infrastructure is critical to full-fibre roll-out.’
Issue 27 n Spring 2020 n FiBRE SYSTEMS 13
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