WHITE PAPER Cost Optimizing Outside Plant Cable Assemblies Cost Optimizing Outside Plant Cable Assemblies Reducing up-front expenses in any FTTP architecture plays into every decision a carrier makes about solutions deployed in any particular situation. Reaching customers quickly and easily with robust, flexible, and reliable connectivity for delivering voice, data, and video services requires careful planning and good decision making. The introduction of hardened connectors and drop cables using multiport service terminals (MSTs) enables carriers to accelerate FTTP deployment, provide rapid service turn-up and enable operational cost savings throughout the life of the network. Plug-and-play designs allow faster and easier methods of pushing fiber closer to homes and businesses while providing substantial benefits to the carriers in terms of both cost and time savings. These advantages include reducing the workforce necessary to install the finished cable assemblies. This provides additional manpower for other areas of the network build-out. All the equipment—MSTs to hardened connectors and drop cables—are manufactured and tested to meet every standard required for robust environmental performance. Now ADC has taken its plug-and-play FTTP architecture to a new level with its Advanced Termination System (ATS)—a cost-effective approach to placing fiber network outside plant (OSP) distribution cabling. With ATS, distribution and drop cable distances are pre-measured at the installation site and then customized assemblies are built in the factory. The entire solution is then packaged on reels and delivered for rapid deployment. Each piece is pre-connectorized at the access points, requiring splicing only at the end of the distribution run. Cost Optimizing Outside Plant Cable Assemblies Page 3 Engineering methodology Each ATS is unique to the specific architectural design of the build-out, with each cable assembly measured for its specific purpose and placement. The custom cables are strung along the streets from pole to pole with connector access points at pre-designated pole locations. One cable, for example, may be 500 to 2,000 feet in length with from 3 to 12 or more access points. Each access point may consist of 4, 6, 8, or 12 fiber connections for connecting the drops to each subscriber along the network route. Therefore, it’s critical that the engineers get precise measurements between pole locations for rapid aerial deployment of the system. These measurements are typically taken using a sophisticated laser range finder that allows them to measure in both directions, using an averaging technique to obtain a very accurate measurement. Below-ground measurements are accomplished using a tape technique whereby a tape is pulled between the hand holes through a conduit system and then measured. All measurement documentation showing all access points, the numbers of terminated fibers, fiber counts for all distribution cables, and how each cable is connected to the access points, is sent back to the factory for system assembly. Web-based configuration tools are being developed that will simplify the engineering process. Once the documentation arrives at the factory, production can begin on each cable assembly necessary for the ATS deployment. Access point technology Access point technology refers to the means of accessing the cable sheath mid-span, removing part of the sheath while maintaining structural element integrity, and accessing and extracting the necessary fibers. A tether is then spliced onto the extracted fibers. This tether can be as short as five feet for aerial applications, or as long as 15 feet or more for below-grade applications. At the end of the tether, a multifiber connector serves as the primary means for fiber deployment. The multifiber connector could have 4, 6, 8, or 12 fiber terminations. Processing the orders Meanwhile, back at the factory, the custom ATS is built according to the engineering specifications supplied through the actual measurements. Each cable assembly is carefully measured, fitted with the appropriate access points, and packaged on a lightweight, compact plastic reel for rapid deployment in the field. Proper packaging is a key element of the production process. The plastic reels are reusable for multiple placements and are compatible with 415 reels. Deployment techniques There are two basic deployment techniques for the ATS— aerial and below grade. For aerial deployment, there are two methods, fixed reel and moving reel. The aerial fixed reel two-pass hand/lash method involves actually stationing the cable assembly reels at the first pole location. From there, installers move toward the central office (CO) first, pulling the cable off the reel. A series of guides or pulleys enable the cable to be pulled more easily and strung up along the strand. Installers then work one pass, pole to pole, down the line until the entire cable is in place. Finally, installers lash the cable onto the strand using a lashing machine—perhaps directly over a copper cable that is already in place. For the aerial moving reel single-pass hand/lash technique, the cable reel is actually loaded onto a truck. As the truck moves down the line, the reel unwinds and the cable assembly is fed out, pulled up into place, and lashed in one motion. The entire process is completed in one pass. A stationary spool placed on a reel stand is used for the below-grade deployment technique. Cable is pulled from the reel through a duct system. In some cases, the cable is pulled in both directions for proper alignment. The ATS can also be direct buried or deployed within multi- dwelling units (MDUs). Testing Each ATS is tested using a loopback plug that is pre-installed on the cable at the factory. Once the cable is spliced into place, it can be tested from the fiber distribution hub (FDH) out to the access point locations using a standard loopback testing technique. 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 105853AE 2/08 Original © 2008 ADC Telecommunications, Inc. All Rights Reserved Terminal placement MST placement can be accomplished at any time—even deferred until any point in the future. Each terminal will typically have a tether with a hardened multifiber connector attached at the factory. The multifiber connected tether enables incredibly fast deployment time. These MSTs can be mounted in a variety of ways—aerial strand, pole mount, pedestal mount, and below grade in hand holes and vaults. Terminal connector ports are clearly marked with numbers for quick drop cable connections, and the hardened adapters are factory cleaned and compatible with OptiTap connectors. Again, the multifiber connector termination can accommodate 4, 6, 8, or 12 fibers for mating to the ATS distribution cable at the access point. Drop cables Once the MSTs are secured, the drop cables provide easy connectivity to the optical network terminal (ONT) at each subscriber premise. The drop cables can be connected above or below ground. Since the drop cables are pre-connectorized at the factory, deployment can be accomplished faster and with less-skilled technicians. If the MST is located in a hand hole, the drop cable is installed in a 1.25-inch duct or direct buried with a tracing wire. An aerial MST application requires an all-dielectric or figure 8 drop from a pole or strand to each subscriber ONT. Summary The obvious advantage of the ATS is boiled down to time saved which, in turn, substantially reduces overall deployment costs. The use of hardened connectors and pre-connectorized cables, along with the multifiber connector tethers, eliminates splicing costs and doesn’t require highly-skilled splice technicians for assembly. Further, the ATS enables easy maintenance and troubleshooting access. The unique plug-and-play design enables faster service turn-up, the ability to handle customer churn, and a more robust and flexible network—all equating to a faster return on investment and significant operation cost savings during the life of the network. WHITE PAPER . WHITE PAPER Cost Optimizing Outside Plant Cable Assemblies Cost Optimizing Outside Plant Cable Assemblies Reducing. access points, requiring splicing only at the end of the distribution run. Cost Optimizing Outside Plant Cable Assemblies Page 3 Engineering methodology Each