How To Find Great Fibre Optics Equipment

21st century broadband is coming to Australia via the Federal Government's commitment to invest over $40 billion over the next 8 years to build a "Fiber to the Home" (FttH) network.

This network will reach even the most remote areas of the country, and keep us on a par with our international trading partners and competitors, some of whom already take this technology for granted.

While this is exciting news to people struggling with out-dated internet access, it's old hat to companies that have been producing fiber optics equipment for years.

To effectively make sure that every home can get their fiber optics cable connected without any hassle a range of support equipment will be needed. Some installations will be in "greenfield" situations where there is no existing infrastructure, and work can proceed with minimal disruption and maximum efficiency.

A lot of the work involves is based around the use of pre-existing platforms. Cable laying equipment is readily available in Australia. However, there will be challenges to be faced in undertaking this project, and companies planning to involve themselves in developing the National Broadband Network (NBN) would do well to investigate fibre optics equipment designed specifically to use preinstalled microducts.

This type of equipment has the following capabilities:

Multiple modes of operation

- "Jetting" - this enables the microcables to be safely installed on challenging microduct pathways
- "Push/Pull" - enables installations of microcables inside buildings
- "Floating" - which places microcables into microproducts with the aid of compressed air or water

The following points have also been taken into consideration in the equipment design:

Size and dimensions of existing microducts

- Existing cable infrastructure comes in a wide range of sizes from 0.7mm O.D. to more than 40mm O.D.
- As population and housing density increases the new look fiber cables will inevitable be required, in many cases, in extremely small areas.

The National Broadband Network (NBN) will be delivered in two FttH formats, overhead and underground. A vast amount of optical fiber cable will be needed, and any cable laying equipment to be used will need to be:

- Reliable and durable
- Manufactured to the highest quality standards
- Backed by solid warranties and a high standard of customer service

Business organizations positioning themselves for involvement in this project need to already be researching their capital, material and labor requirements even at this early stage.

They should be establishing partnerships or supplier agreements with fiber optics equipment companies and choosing those who have the most up-to-date technology. Now is the time to get the jump on the opposition.


Copyright (c) 2009 Michael Atma