THOMAS RITZ AERIAL FIBRE
Aerial cabling isn’t more difficult to roll out, it just requires a different approach and different equipment.
however, power lines have been up and running across Europe and the UK for almost 150 years. Aerial cabling isn’t more difficult to roll out, it just requires a different approach and different equipment. It’s not necessarily better in every situation, but for certain stretches of a fibre network, it enables faster, more cost-effective rollouts that avoid permit issues and other delay-causing factors.
• Faster rollouts thanks to standardised components and pre-terminated cables • Better upfront layout planning • Much fewer permit requests and shorter related waiting times • Reduced process complexity due to plug and play with pre-con connectivity • Much less specialised labour time needed (trenching, blow-in, splicing) needed (including related machine time plus availability of special tools and expertise). It’s important to emphasise that today’s improved products for aerial deployment are helping broadband providers roll out Fibre to the Home faster. This is driving new applications, configurations, and use of technologies that allow standardised planning, consider budget and subscriber location optimised network layouts, and enable use of indexing, or even and uneven splitting ratios. These solutions also enable use of factory-tested cable assemblies with a small footprint and easy to handle IP rated connectors (bayonet or push-pull) as well as terminated or distributed at compact pole mounted closures, terminals, or boxes. Special cables (ADSS, drop cables in different shapes -round, oval, 8-shape) and provision of respective mounting- kits make it easy and fast to span cable between poles. Unlike the USA and many Asian countries, Europe and the UK have always shown a significant preference for trenching and digging when it comes to fibre, possibly for esthetic reasons. The difference may also partly be because the distances to be bridged in remote areas outside Europe tend to be much bigger and the city layouts are different – in the USA, for example, suburbs may cover vast areas and have low population density. Possibly, network designers and operators in Europe and the UK are worried that exposed cabling might be more prone to damage or failure. Of course, manufacturers need to make sure components are resistant to everything from vandalism to UV light, suspended cables and how much the cables might shrink or expand • Selection of highly robust material • Standardisation of the range to be able to build and carry out maintenance work efficiently
as temperature fluctuations, torsions, vibrations, and external pressure. It is very important to understand that the requirements for aerial cables are significantly higher than for buried cables, as they are continuously exposed to environmental conditions. In addition to the necessary high tensile force, other influences must also be considered, such as ice load, vibration, UV resistance, temperature cycling behaviour, cable weight and cable diameter and sag. This can be remedied by encasing aerial cables in either UV-stable HDPE / FRLSZH outer sheathing and making sure they are designed for a temperature range of -25 °C to +70 °C (a black surface under direct sunlight reaches +70 °C relatively easily). In aerial drop applications, being self-supporting is essential. U - (ZN) H type cabling with its straightforward construction can traverse span lengths of up to 70 m. An overview of challenges which should be taken into account at early stages of planning: • Capacity on site: are the utility poles available, who owns them, and what is the cost? • How much space is available on the poles? • Can the poles withstand the strain of additional cables and connection boxes? • Required spans and mounting heights: To what extent may cables sag? • Demands from neighbours and local regulations: to what extent must the appearance of the environment be considered • Weight and diameter of aerial drop cables needs to be minimal. • Where possible, sharing poles between multiple providers should be avoided. Aerial deployment offers several benefits for rollouts in rural areas • Lower cost of deployment compared to classic underground trenched solutions. • Reduced need for infrastructure and less disruption to the environment. • Easier access for repairs and maintenance. Four aspects important for planning FTTH aerial deployment in remote locations: • Familiarisation with the location of the conduits and climatic conditions on site • Specification of the span of the
Dipl.Ing. Thomas H. Ritz, MBA, Market Manager Public Networks, R&M Thomas H. Ritz is an electrical engineer with skills in communication networks and RF-technology, fibre-optical telecom, testing and sensor applications. He has worked in international, technology based B2B-solution selling for over 30 years. With leadership experience in international sales and strategic marketing Thomas is always keen to tackle new business and product portfolio development & design challenges. Thomas holds an MSc. degree in Electrical Engineering (RF, Communications) from the University of Saarland, Germany, and an MBA in Strategic Marketing and General Management from Xavier University, Cincinnati, USA. He has held positions in Product Management, Project Consulting, Business Development, Sales and General Management with leading companies such as Fraunhofer Gesellschaft FhG/IzfP, Alcatel-Lucent, Hirschmann Multimedia, Harris Broadcasting Group, Kraus Maffei Wegmann Group, OMICRON Electronics GmbH and Huber & Suhner AG. Thomas enjoys living in Austria, traveling, cooking, hiking, meeting international people, art, music events, Austrian and Italian wine.
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ISSUE 34 | Q3 2023
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