WHITE PAPER Utilizing a plug-and-play architecture to drive down network construction costs Utilizing a plug-and-play architecture to drive down network construction costs The goal for bringing the promise of fiber to residential subscribers is to install flexible and reliable fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) architectures at the lowest possible cost. Plug-and-play architectures provide significant advantages, such as reducing the need for highly-skilled technicians to perform installation tasks and enabling easy access to facilitate maintenance and troubleshooting. This paper will explore plug-and-play technology improvements for FTTP networks – from the central office (CO), through the outside plant (OSP), and into the structure. Today, many service providers are also focused on multiple dwelling units (MDUs) because of their potential for high revenues. Still, unique circumstances inherent in any FTTP situation will dictate exactly what methodology and equipment will be the best fit. Installing a plug-and-play architecture will provide very cost-effective bandwidth delivery by reducing the number of splices, splice technicians, and splice crews required to turn up services. This paper explains the benefits of implementing plug-and-play techniques, beginning at the CO and working through the OSP and into the subscriber premise. Using plug-and-play architectures throughout the FTTP architecture will streamline the connection process by simplifying the logistics, enabling fast and reliable deployments – and, more importantly, a faster return-on- investment for providers. From the CO A key plug-and-play feature within the CO is the multi-fiber push-on (MPO) connector. These connectors are an industry standard defined by Telcordia GR-1435, and this document defines the baseline requirements for performance levels. The MPO connector enables multiple fibers to be terminated with one connection, as opposed to individual SC connectors for each individual fiber. Although the MPO connector has existed for several years, its plug-and-play application was typically found in data centers where it was used in multimode fiber applications. However, its use within the CO environment is relatively new, partly because of higher initial costs. Still, these higher up-front costs may be mitigated during the operation by reducing the number of splices and creating the capability to make multiple connections using one MPO connector on the back of a panel. Page 3 For the CO environment, where singlemode applications are required, a small form factor footprint is very desirable. Typically, eight-fiber and 12-fiber MPOs are enabling high performance connectorization for much of the active equipment emerging for today’s market. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are using these MPO connectors in several ways – such as inside the passive panel used for fiber management or in a termination panel on a large frame containing a large switch or router. ADC is involved in MPO applications at both ends of the CO. Large MPO connectors are used in distribution type cables to house higher fiber counts. Meanwhile, the interconnect cables typically contain eight or 12 fibers and act as single-ribbon patch cords. Another plug-and-play resource in the CO involves a “breakout style” assembly. This is a more rugged cable that plugs directly into the active equipment on one side with the frame on the other side. It resembles a patch cord, but with a fiber count up to 24 fibers. The advantage of plugging directly into a transceiver, such as with video equipment, is easy configuration, as only one cable is required to each shelf. As always, even with plug-and-play architectures simplifying applications within the CO, proper fiber cable management is an important consideration. The need for clear cable routing and slack storage is not always high on the lists of active equipment providers, so solid management practices may become the sole responsibility of the installation technician. Through the OSP In the outside plant, plug and play strategies are key to reducing initial construction costs and new customer turn up expenditures. Efficient distribution plant construction is vital to maintaining adequate return on capital ratios and reducing the capital expenditures (CAPEX) required for making the network subscriber-ready. Hardened connectors and adapters not only allow for cost savings in terms of labor, but also enable faster installation of the distribution plant. The original methods used for distribution at the FTTP serving area involved splicing drop cables at drop points at the time of construction. Through the adoption of hardened connectors and adapters in the outside plant, the number of splicing hours required to turn up a new serving area can be greatly reduced. This results in significant savings when deploying FTTP services. These hardened connectors are specifically designed and tested for use in the OSP environment. They are capable of meeting higher performance standards and manufacturing improvements that result in lower insertion and return loss. Hardened adapters are integrated into environmentally sealed, preterminated multiport service terminals. The terminals are factory preterminated with 50- to 2000-feet of outside plant cable in configurations of 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, or 12- fibers. Each terminal tail is returned to a centralized splicing point. At the centralized splice point, splicing efficiencies are realized as splicing crews reduce the number of hours necessary to perform the same number of splices. In addition to reduced splicing expenditures, the multiport service terminal provides quick and simple mounting options, also increasing the rate of FTTP deployment. Each terminal is shipped with a bracket or adapter that is specifically designed for the OSP environment and can be installed in hand-holes or pedestals, mounted on utility poles or overhead cable, or simply secured to any convenient flat surface. New technologies are being introduced to further increase the speed and ease of network deployment. Factory spliced outside plant cables, or advanced termination systems, consist of standard outside plant fiber cables with factory spliced drops or access points. Each access point consists of a connectorized multi- fiber tether factory-spliced mid-span to the distribution cable. A key benefit to factory pre-engineered plug-and- play connectorization is the highly repeatable splicing capabilities made possible by controlled conditions within the factory environment. Advanced termination systems expedite the speed of network installation and defer the costs of the hardened terminal until revenue is realized, i.e. subscriber turn-up. The operational savings of plug-and-play architectures are realized at subscriber turn up. In spliced architectures, splice crews may be dispatched to turn up new customers or the drop cable may have been installed at initial plant construction. The drop cable can now be installed without splice labor by simply inserting the factory connectorized cable into adapter ports at the multiport service terminal and at the ONT on the home. Hardened drop cables are factory-connectorized assemblies with hardened connectors on each end. These cables are also pre-tested and certified at the factory to meet performance requirements. Each hardened connector and adapter is further protected by a protective cap or plug until they are put into service. Once the connector is engaged with the adapter, it is sealed with a watertight O-ring. Simplified cleaning techniques add to the ease of connecting and maintaining the OSP portion of the network. An additional feature of the plug-and-play hardened connector system is the arrow on the connector that aligns with a notch on the adapter for precise alignment into the optical port. Utilizing a plug-and-play architecture to drive down network construction costs WHITE PAPER Website: www.adc.com From North America, Call Toll Free: 1-800-366-3891 • Outside of North America: +1-952-938-8080 Fax: +1-952-917-3237 • For a listing of ADC’s global sales office locations, please refer to our website. ADC Telecommunications, Inc., P.O. Box 1101, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA 55440-1101 Specifications published here are current as of the date of publication of this document. Because we are continuously improving our products, ADC reserves the right to change specifications without prior notice. At any time, you may verify product specifications by contacting our headquarters office in Minneapolis. ADC Telecommunications, Inc. views its patent portfolio as an important corporate asset and vigorously enforces its patents. Products or features contained herein may be covered by one or more U.S. or foreign patents. An Equal Opportunity Employer 105761AE 2/08 Original © 2008 ADC Telecommunications, Inc. All Rights Reserved Into the MDU As in the other portions of the FTTP network, the significant advantage to a plug-and-play system is the speed of installation. But that advantage is amplified when it comes to bringing fiber into new MDUs. If the fiber network installers can be in and out of the building as quickly as the construction workers, it creates a huge incentive for the building owner to decide on FTTP architecture. To see how plug-and-play can speed up the installation process, let’s look at an example from a mid-rise or high-rise building. An indoor FDH is located on the lower level with a couple of 144-fiber stubs. Fiber distribution terminals (FDTs) reside on each floor of the building that route 12 or 24 fibers down to the indoor FDH where they are typically spliced in. In this example, 288 fibers would be spliced between the FDH and the FDTs. Fiber drop cables would then run from the FDTs to the optical network terminals ONTs, creating another splice point since it is not possible to predict the exact length of each drop. Now, let’s create the same infrastructure using plug-and-play architecture. In this case, an FDT again resides on each floor, but an MPO connector is mounted on the stub of each. The fiber is deployed from each FDT to the indoor FDH, also with built-in 12-fiber MPO connectors. Each connection is easily plugged into the FDH from every floor. Basically, to install fiber into an MDU is a simple matter of mounting the enclosures and making plug-and-play connections with the cables. Since distances vary from each FDT to the FDH, a built-in fiber spool is designed on the FDT. The spool holds up to 500 feet of fiber cable. Therefore, the cable is easily spooled out to the FDH and plugged in, while any extra cable remains on the spool. The box containing the spool is small – about 9 x 6 x 3.5 – and can be locked down with a shroud to cover and protect the excess fiber. In the end, not only time is saved for getting in and out of the building in about half a day, but splices are also traded for connections. A major headache throughout the FTTP network is the amount of time and money consumed by splicing operations, but it’s particularly true in the MDU environment. Although estimates vary, it typically takes an hour to splice 12 fibers, with labor costs as high as $100 per hour. That’s not even taking into consideration the capital equipment costs involved with splicing, such as purchasing splice machines (up to $30k per unit), cleaving machines, and stripping equipment. Adding up time of installation, labor, and capital equipment costs makes it obvious that plug-and-play connectivity offers a tremendous advantage. Advantage: plug-and-play The plug-and-play approach to an FTTP infrastructure is made possible by new advances in hardened connector technology, factory-connectorized MSTs, and hardened drop cables. When compared with traditional spliced architectures, plug-and-play provides tremendous cost savings advantages, as well as savings in time and manpower. Plug-and-play architectures, from the CO to the subscriber premise, including MDUs, will enable cost-effective, easy-to-manage, reliable FTTP networks. ADC is on the forefront of these new solutions – providing an end-to-end solution that will meet the unique challenges of bringing fiber directly to every subscriber. WHITE PAPER . makes it obvious that plug-and-play connectivity offers a tremendous advantage. Advantage: plug-and-play The plug-and-play approach to an FTTP infrastructure. WHITE PAPER Utilizing a plug-and-play architecture to drive down network construction costs Utilizing a plug-and-play architecture to drive down network