Microcable & Microduct NEXT GENERATION FTTx ACCESS CABLE SYSTEMS Pete Carapella Caribbean Cable & Telecommunications Association July, 2016
Solving the FTTP Challenge As operators around the world ramp up FTTP deployment, they are discovering that it is the last leg of the connection, from the cabinet to the individual home or building often termed the last drop - that is proving to be the greatest challenge. Whether it is landscape and environment, regulatory issues, customer inconvenience, or deployment cost, the challenges of the last drop mean an operator can be faced with countless individual civil engineering projects on any FTTP rollout. 2
FTTP Access Network Challenges The right of features and performance for the job Cable solutions that can be configured to meet any challenge for homes apartments and business Ability to rapidly deploy with existing work force Don t want steep learning curves and expensive capital tooling requirements 3
What is Microcable Microcable is a smaller & lighter version of traditional fiber cables but its still durable and flexible Can be flat, stranded or round Available in low to medium fiber counts Higher density than standard cables Advances in cable design and material science provide high density with good mechanical and environmental performance Covered under the requirements or GR-20 and GR-409 4
What is Microduct Typically 10 to 12.5mm or smaller Can be individual or grouped in bundles Only one cable/duct Provides a pathway and protection for microcables Like Microcable, they have a balance between size, durability and flexibility Covered under the requirements or GR-3155 Microducts & Microcable can be used in different combinations depending on the application or environment 5
Aerial Cable ADSS Non metallic aerial cables MASS metallic cables Ultra-light weight and small size Eliminates need for structural engineering Easy to handle Last drop spans (<250 ft spans) Standard install practice / tools and hardware Outdoor microducts can be lashed 6
ADSS Microcable vs Traditional Cables Comparison of 24 fiber OSP rated cables: Cable ADSS Microcable Diameter (mm) Weight (#/1000ft) Bend Radius (mm) Tensile Strength (lbf) 7 23 70 231 Stranded loose tube 10.5 49 105 600 ADSS loose tube 10.9 62 109 900 7
Direct Bury Durability Less obtrusive than regular conduit Underground microducts are available with locating wire and/or pull string 8
Microduct In Conduit More protection Protects your cable from the contamination and flooding issues in the underground Diverse pathway and higher density Easier install in occupied ducts 9
Indoor Emphasis on flexibility Some applications may require fire rated materials Smaller size & light weight Durable enough to handle regular abuse Some microcable can be used without microduct 10
11
Many Different Ways to Install Because of the features and performance advantages, there are more installation options available not just pulling Pushing Floating Blowing or jetting Micro-trenching 12
Microcable Installation Lighter weight Low friction Cable/Duct Coefficient of Friction Comments Hardened cable/optimized duct lining 0.05 0.10 Lowest friction Hardened cable/silicone 0.10 0.12 lining Commonly available duct Standard cable/standard duct 0.16 0.25 Un-lined duct Indoor cable/standard duct 0.30 0.60 Soft jackets and un-lined duct 13
Pushable Microcable Hard and durable low friction Stiff enough to resist binding Flexible enough to accommodate bends and sweeps From 1 to 24 fibers Tough 3mm PBT jacket Grooves act like hinges 14
Microduct for Pushable Microcable ID of duct no more than 2x the ID of cable Hard, low friction lining Lining dissipates static buildup 15
Blowing Also called jetting High pressure air ~150psi Distributed loading of the fiber less likely to cause damage Fiber is installed very quickly 2 installers can run 3000 in 30min Setup time for equipment Works best with installs that require long runs and multiple ports from the same location 16
Blowing 17
Blowing When blowing from the street there is a risk of blowing contamination into the customer premises In some applications it may be prohibitive to blow fiber from the customer end Equipment can be large and pressures can be high 18
Floating Low pressure blowing air assist Simpler, handheld equipment Speeds up to 60ft/min 19
Battery Assisted Microcable Feeder ~50m/min r Mic le b a oc Mic rod Compre ssed (Floatin air g) 20 uc t
Micro-Trenching 10mm OD direct bury duct Small diameter Rugged construction no pinching at corners. Tough enough to withstand bitumen back fill In and out of work site quicker 21
Microduct Specifics One cable per duct Don t leave a pull cord in with the cable Don t use tape or heavy pull strings Maintain bends to >10xOD Be careful with lubrication Don t The use lube with blowing or pushing best microducts have a permanently lubricated lining Choose microducts that mitigate static buildup 22
Handling Microcables & Microducts Easy breakout for splicing and termination Repair-ability using duct couplers Craft friendly 23
Pushable Microcable Assemblies Factory epoxied and polished connector ferrule is small enough to fit through microduct Connector housing snaps on after installation Reduces installation time, skill & cost Lower cost than mechanical or SOC connectors Easier slack storage Simple to repair and replace 24
Microcable & Microduct Enable FTTP The right balance of durability, flexibility and size/weight for the access Ability to push, pull or blow the cables as needed No steep learning curve or capital tooling requirements Speed to install reduces labor costs and makes customers happy 25
Microcable & Microduct Case Studies 26
Deploying Pre-term Cable Problem: Comms room needs connecting to backbone fibre: approx. 800ft away Pre-existing 1 ¼ inch conduit route Solution: Use of m2fx burial microduct Use of Robust, Pushable 12-fiber micro cable with LC/UPC pigtails. Duct & Cable pushed +800 Feet and patched into comms room panel. Result: 45 minutes on site No splicing in the comms room Project costs <$2,000 27
DAS 28
Occupied Duct Problem: Radiohead on roof required fiber for data transmission The fiber route via conduit is space constrained Projected Coring Costs of $300,000 Solution: Use of Robust, Ultra-Low Friction m2fx micro duct Use of Robust 2 X 24-fiber micro cable Duct & Cable pushed 11 floors from Roof to Basement 24-90 Bends Result: Impossible install achieved Project costs <$5,000 29