Underground VS Aerial-Which is the best solution for fiber cable installation?

  As we all know, according to the market report by Cognitive Market Research, the fiber optic market of Latin countries is expected to see significant growth. The region has experienced an unprecedented surge in fiber optics, demonstrating the importance and growth potential of the fiber optic communication industry in Latin countries. The market of fiber optic cables increase with $112.8 billion from 2023 to 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.64%. The improvement in internet penetration rates and the increase in data traffic are the main factors driving market growth.

        Latin countries is experiencing significant technological progress and is positioned as one of the regions with the fastest urbanization rates globally. To support this growth, various governments have initiated multiple large-scale projects aimed at developing the network and telecommunications infrastructure across the region.

The installation of aerial cable in Latin countries faces several significant challenges and issues：

1. Weather and Environmental Conditions: Rural areas, particularly those in regions prone to extreme weather conditions like storms, snow, or flooding, can present additional challenges for fiber optic deployment . And Aerial fiber cable are susceptible to environmental harm. Severe weather, including storms and strong winds, can lead to service outages and total system breakdowns .

2. Vandalism: The elevated position of aerial fiber optics makes them an easy target for those intent on causing damage, resulting in expensive repairs and interruptions to service .

3. Maintenance: Regular inspections are essential to confirm the operational integrity of aerial fiber cables, and any issues detected must be resolved without delay to prevent further service disruptions. The maintenance of aerial optical cables poses the risk of working at heights for construction workers.

We are well aware of the challenges that aerial optical cable is facing. Is there any solution?  

        Yes, my suggestion is Underground, as you can see from the picture, the traditional method for install underground cable is pulling by duct rodder. However it request the fiber cable must be strong enough to avoid any damage of the cable via pulling;  Proper use of the fiberglass duct rodder requires a certain level of skill and training. Incorrect operation, such as applying too much force or using the wrong size rod for the conduit, can lead to equipment damage or cable damage; And it’s slow way for underground cable installation. Base on the 20 years experience, we propose a better solution for underground cable installation.

        Fiber blowing solution, it’s also known as cable jetting, is when a machine is used to float fiber optic cable through the conduit run by using highly pressurized air to push it forward. While the set-up is more extensive, blowing fiber is great for long distances and can go thousands of feet.

What’s the benefit of fiber blowing solution ?

1- Save construction time: fiber blowing is an efficient technology, the cable installation speed is 60-85m/min which takes about 20mins to install 1km cable into duct.

2- Save space: Micro cable technology makes the same space can accommodate more fibers, which can save much space compare to the traditional fiber cables.

3- Urban expansion: When laying pipelines, we must think about the expansion of urbanization. Microduct tube bundle can match it. For example, when laying a 24ways tube bundle, we can blow fiber cable into the 24piece sub-duct whenever we need.

4- Optimizing the city’s appearance: All the fiber cable install underground instead of install on the pole, it can optimize the city’s appearance.

In summary, fiber blowing solutions offer a more efficient, cost-effective, and reliable method of installation compared to aerial cable installation. They are faster to deploy, require less maintenance, have a lower environmental impact, and provide a more expansion network infrastructure.