The Last 100 Meters

Optimized Drop Cables for FTTH

Lisa A. Dixon
October 2004

OFS Copyright © 2004 Furukawa Electric

North America Inc. All rights reserved.
Cable for an FTTH Network

Aerial Distribution
Cable Aerial
Aerial ONT
Drop Drop ONT
Closure
Drop
Central
Office/ Head
End
NMP
(e.g., Drop Closure/
Cabinet) Pedestal
Buried
Buried
Drop
Drop

Transition Buried or Underground

Access/Branch
Closure
Feeder Closure Distribution Cable
Cable

Page 2
Overview
ƒDrop Cables: Yesterday and Today

ƒChoosing a Cable
ƒ How will it be installed?
ƒ Who’s going to install it and terminate it?

ƒCable Options for your FTTH installation

ƒ Below-Grade
– Armored
– Locatable
– Microduct
ƒ Aerial
– All-Dielectric
– Metallic
ƒTo Preconnectorize… or Not

Page 3
“Drop Cables” of the 1990’s
‰ ’90’s Drop Cables: Significantly smaller than standard
cables with 12 or fewer fibers

Standard 12-f Loose Tube Cable

12-f Drop Cables

Filler Rod

‰ In general, ’90’s Drop Cables were NOT used for FTTH:

¾ Low-density networks (rural areas)
¾ Mini distribution cables
Page 4
FTTH Today….

“WANTED: Single Fiber Cable”

ƒShould it be one of these?

…it depends, and

now there are more
choices!

Page 5
FTTH Today….
Criteria for Choosing Drop Cable

ƒƒ Choose
How areand
youplan carefully…
going to install it?

Aerial Buried
Drop Drop

ƒ Who is
…your choice
goingwill affect the your
to terminate cost to connect
fiber every home!
& how?

Page 6
Choosing Drop Cable:
How are you going to install it?

ƒBelow Grade
¾Direct buried?
¾In Duct?

ƒAerial
¾Self-support?
¾Lashed?

ƒDo you have a choice?

Page 7
Choosing Drop Cable:
Below-Grade Installations
‰ Why? Hide the cable!

Greenfield allows pre-

installation of cable

Brownfield requires dig

up and restoration

‰ Use of conduit is an option:

¾ Greenfield Pre-installed conduit allows “fiber on demand”
• Avoid exposure of fiber to construction dig-up hazards
• Install fiber “just in time” to deliver service
¾ Brownfield Conduit reduces dig up and restoration costs
to repair damaged cable
Page 8
Choosing Drop Cable: Below-Grade Installations
ARMORED DROPS
Key Product Attributes: Steel
¾ Heavy Duty Drop Cable wire
¾ Resistance to Rodent Damage
¾ Locatable
¾ For Direct Buried and Duct Buffer Steel
Installations Tube Armor
Impact on Installation Costs:
¾ Minimize Accidental Dig-Ups Disadvantages:
¾ Metal components must be
grounded
¾ Robust armored sheath can be
harder to remove
¾ Heavier and bulkier to ship,
store, and handle
¾ Less flexible in routing and for
coiling

Page 9
Choosing Drop Cable: Below-Grade Installations
LOCATABLE DROPS
Key Product Attributes:
Disadvantages:
¾ Locatable Metallic must be
¾ Metal components
¾ Removable Metallic Component
grounded Messenger
¾ For Duct and Direct Buried
¾ Flat cables can be more
Strand
Installations
difficult to coil
Impact on Installation Costs:
¾ Minimize Accidental Dig-ups Fiber Buffer Tube

Metallic
Strength Wire

Buffered Fiber Unit

Page 10
Choosing Drop Cable: Below-Grade Installations
Microduct Drops
Key Product Attributes:
¾ Smallest of Microcables!
¾ All-Dielectric
¾ For Microduct Installations
Impact on Installation Costs:
¾ Fast Installation
¾ Can Eliminate Splice at Each
Premises
¾ Allow Fiber on Demand

7/5.5 mm duct
5/3.5 mm duct 5/3.5 mm duct

3 mm
1 mm 2 mm

Page 11
Choosing Drop Cable: Below-Grade Installations
Microduct Drops
NMP
(e.g.,
Cabinet)
ONT Distribution
Cable

Drop Cable Disadvantages:

¾ Pedestal and Fiber
Need complete Splice of duct
network
to leverage benefits
¾ Must invest in equipment and
trainingMicroduct
or experienced
Branch
contractor Closure

Page 12
Choosing Drop Cable:
Aerial Installations
‰ Why? Fast! Lowest Restoration Cost!

‰ Questions to Consider
¾Does community allow aerial utilities?
¾Are power utilities on the pole?
¾ How long are the aerial spans?

Storm Loading Conditions will Affect Cable and

Installation Options

Page 13
Choosing Drop Cable: Aerial Installations
ALL-DIELECTRIC SELF-SUPPORTING DROPS
Key Product Attributes: Buffered Fiber Unit
¾ All-dielectric (no bonding or grounding)
¾ Self-supporting
¾ Compatible with copper drop hardware
Impact on Installation Costs:
¾ Simple, fast installation
Dielectric Tensile
¾ Inexpensive, standard hardware
Members

Disadvantages:
¾ Flat cables can be more
difficult to coil Fiber Buffer Tube

Page 14
Choosing Drop Cable: Aerial Installations
METALLIC SELF-SUPPORTING DROPS
Key Product Attributes:
¾ Self-supporting
¾ Compatible with copper drop hardware
Impact on Installation Costs:
¾ Simple, fast installation
¾ Inexpensive, standard hardware

Metallic
Messenger Disadvantages:
Strand ¾ Metal components must be
grounded
¾ Not for use near power lines
Fiber Buffer Tube ¾ Flat cables can be more
difficult to coil

Page 15
Choosing Drop Cable:
Who is going to terminate it?
‰ Fiber is not like copper
‰ Termination methods:
¾Fusion splicing
¾Field connectorization
¾Preconnectorized cables

‰ Is your fiber to be terminated by….

¾ A cable installation crew?
¾ An experienced splicer?

If you don’t want to spend money

on a splicer,
…pre-connectorized cables
are an option.
Page 16
Choosing Drop Cable:
Preconnectorized Cable Cordage/
Connector Buffered
Key Product Attribute: Fiber
¾ Plug and Play Installation
Impact on Installation Costs:
¾ Simple, Fast Installation
¾ Reduce Craft Training
¾ Reduce Equipment and Tools
Needed for Termination of Fiber
Furcation

Considerations:
¾ Use of precon cables requires pre-
engineering or options for slack
storage
¾ Connectors must be protected during
shipping, storage and installation
¾ Duct must be large enough for
connector to be pulled through

Page 17
Pre-Connectorized Cable
Managing Slack Cable

Termination Port Slack Storage

for Field-End
Connector Primary Strength
Element

Slack Storage


[cut]
Grounding
Point
Cable
Clamp/Strain Termination Port
Relief for Premises-End
PEDESTAL Connector

Page 18
Questions to Answer Before Shopping For Cable:
‰ How many fibers are required to support the optical path to the customer?
‰ What type of termination is preferred? (fusion splicing, field connectorization, or
preconnectorized drops)
‰ If the cable is to be installed aerially:
¾ What is the maximum aerial span length needed to support your routes?
¾ Can you use metallic aerial cables (i.e., how close are power cables)?
¾ What kind of aerial hardware is required?
o How expensive is it?
o Can it be installed on the outside of a customer premises?
‰ If the cable is to be installed below-grade:
¾ Are rodents a concern? Conclusions:
¾ What type of equipment is available Identify
¾ for yourorconstraints
direct buried duct installations?
¾ If installed in duct, what size duct ¾ Review
is needed forall options
pull-in of the cable? For pull-in of a
preconnectorized cable? ¾ Find the best “fit”
¾ Plan ahead so you get the full benefit
‰ Do the drop closures, pedestals, or ONTs to be used limit the selection of drop cables?
of your optimized cable choice!
(due to shape, size, or construction)
‰ If the cable is metallic, is it compatible with the grounding hardware in your closures and
ONTs?
OFS Copyright © 2004 Fitel USA Corp., All rights reserved. Page 19