NICOL LOW BLOWING FIBRE
Considering that according to an August Government briefing paper the UK lags behind all EU countries except for Greece, Belgium and Cyprus when it comes to full- fibre coverage, this revision is disappointing but logical. But while it is understandable, it remains disconcerting that the UK has stumbled on national gigabit coverage into 2021, even with more attainable targets in mind. Indeed, Government constituency data published in September 2021 looking at broadband coverage showed that 38.7% of English and Welsh premises on average nationally were capable of receiving services that deliver speeds of 1 gigabit per second. With three years remaining to hit the gigabit target, questions must be asked on how the installation process can be made more efficient. Considering the Government’s explanation to a parliamentary committee in April 2021 that a lack of certainty on how quickly industry could affect a full rollout was a key reason in paring down these targets, these concerns are further amplified. BLOWING-IN One issue compounding this problem is the current shortage of skilled fibre technicians. With their full schedules and ensuing lack of availability hampering wide-ranging rollout efforts, ensuring quicker installations is paramount, and a more effective immediate fix alongside training more technicians, which is more time-consuming. Critical to the installation of fibre-to-the- home (FTTH) technology is the ‘blowing-in’ process. This involves pushing the cable through a microduct to the property from a nearby toby box using high-speed compressed air, which is then caught on the other side, connecting the home. Though this process may sound simple, several logistical barriers exist that can prevent under-pressure technicians from quickly completing this task. The compressor used for air provision is one such obstacle, with many models lacking internal cooling systems commonly being used for blowing-in. DUTYCYCLES Without this key component, the risk of the compressor overheating increases, meaning the tool must be regularly rested while it cools down, lowering the duty cycle. This specifically refers to the amount of time a portable unit can run at full load before it needs to be switched off to avoid overheating. For example, during an hour of operation under standard conditions, a compressor which has a duty cycle of 25% would only be able to run for five minutes on full load before needing 15 minutes downtime.
Compressors need to be easily portable.”
INNOVATIONS INTO2022 Looking forward into 2022 and developments in the compressor space, the main area in which progress will be made is maintaining equipment performance with the 110V power supply mandated on sites due to safety reasons. While industrial units have traditionally run on 240 Volts, the fact that this voltage cannot be used for on-site work has been a traditional barrier to overcome. In order to do so, any compressor unit used in FTTH applications will need to compensate for reduced voltage by increasing current consumption. Consequently, innovations are currently being made into fitting portable compressors with more powerful electronic drives to compensate. With the introduction of units into the market more capable of adapting to this differing level of power, technicians will be able to fully capitalise on the variable speeds that can be used in latest generation of compressors. Specifically, more room will be available at the top end of compressed air provision, where better use of available electrical power is needed for effective blowing-in on more complex cabling. Where traditional models may have struggled at bends in the fibre duct due to their single speed set-up, the combination of variable settings and increased power utilisation will further aid technicians in providing gigabit-capable broadband. For a government under pressure to deliver on ambitious targets, and homeowners requiring ever-increasing data to work and live their daily lives, this convenience could prove transformational. In conclusion, the need to ensure the UK has a broadband network fit for current and future challenges necessitates innovation at all stages of the installation process. Key to this is what type of compressor is being used when blowing in fibre optic cabling to homes. Using innovative systems that allow for 100% duty cycles is a crucial aspect of ensuring under-pressure ISP technicians can meet ambitious deadlines, so should therefore be considered a priority for the rollout, rather than a preference.
downtime could place them behind schedule, this disruption could be considered unacceptable. Worse still, technicians unfamiliar with low duty cycle compressors may use them continuously, resulting in premature wear and tear and eventual equipment failure. Not only does this lead to additional costs of replacing the unit, but it halts ongoing work until the portable unit is either fixed or replaced. For technicians already time- poor due to skills shortages, this unplanned downtime stemming from the lack of a 100% duty cycle can interrupt the work in hand and quickly snowball into a larger problem. CONICAL ROTARYCOMPRESSOR TECHNOLOGY Taking into account this drawback, innovation has continued around how new compressor technologies can mitigate duty cycle concerns. The ongoing development of alternatives to traditional solutions in this sphere, including conical rotary compressor (CRC) technology, is one such area in which progress has been made. Consisting of one rotor placed inside the other, with both turning in the same direction to compress air as it travels down the screws, CRC technology provides the ideal pressure and flow levels required for blowing-in applications. Fitted into portable compressor units with variable speed drives for a quick response to varying pressure and flow requirements during the installation, CRC has been proven to supply pulse-free air at 100% duty for continuous running. In turn, these features can vastly increase the productivity of the installation, while removing the need for regular downtime that can hamper traditional compressor models. Alongside this, opportunities for air gapping that can disrupt the blowing-in process are prevented, resulting in a 35% improvement in installation times. Crucially, this technology can provide necessary air flow at 62 decibels – below the 65-decibel threshold for works up to 11pm, as laid out in Part 1 of the Code of Practice for Noise and Vibration Control on Construction and Open Sites. Because of this, more working hours can be realised for technicians to hit demanding rollout targets.
However, for under-pressure ISP technicians, for whom even a minute’s
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INDUSTRY FOCUS 2021/2022
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