To Bury or Not to Bury: FTTH Providers Tackle The Question

With optical fiber moving beyond its traditional role as a carrier of long-haul communications and now being run all the way to the home, the builders of next-generation fiber networks are increasingly facing a critical decision with regard to one essential element of their mission - getting the fiber physically to the household.

Typically, there are two options for where to place cable - either suspend it from existing or new utility poles or place it underground. Because every installation presents its own challenges, each system's outside plant design reflects the most cost effective alternatives to install fiber along its route, often a combination of both aerial and underground.

While aerial cable is quicker to install and easier to reach for repairs, exposure to the elements insures the need for repairs more often. Fiber optic drop cables either buried or in underground conduits, are more secure and hence more reliable.

One concern about burying new cable is the potential damage to streets, property and the resulting disruption of traffic during construction. Some news reports have included negative accounts focusing on these issues and the inconvenience they bring to residents and businesses in affected areas.

However, most in the industry believe such critical reports are isolated cases and often are inaccurate. "Such instances are unusual," said Robert Campbell, a board member at the Fiber-to-the-Home Council and the Research Manager for Ditch Witch, a maker of underground construction equipment. "There are several methods of trenchless construction that place cable in the ground while minimizing damage to surface improvements. These trenchless methods are also less disruptive to traffic flows than traditional open-cut methods. This can reduce total project costs by eliminating most of the repairs and restoration of getting the cable underground."

Ryan Graham, Plant Design Engineer Supervisor for HTC (a FTTH provider in South Carolina), answers a few frequently asked questions about the process of burying underground cable:

What is the process that HTC uses to dig underground?

• HTC uses a method commonly called horizontal directional drilling (HDD).
• It is a steerable, trenchless method of installing underground pipes, conduits, and cables in a shallow arc along a path using a surface launched rig.
• Directional boring is used when trenching or excavating are not practical.
• HDD minimizes environmental disruption.

What type of machinery does HTC use?

• HTC uses a Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) rig. With its 10 foot rods on the side, it is easily recognizable.
• Again, the HDD rig minimizes any type of environmental disruption.

What is typically involved when digging to install Fiber-to-the-Home?

• The construction crews at HTC use a wedger, which is a heavy metal device that looks similar to a shovel.
• The wedger is driven into the ground at least 12" and up to 18" to open a trench deep enough to place the fiber drop.
• The trench area is then put back together and with the help of rain or a sprinkler system, everything will return back to its original condition within 2 to 3 weeks.

What precautionary steps are taken to preserve the customer's yard and landscaping?

• By using HDD, surface damage is greatly reduced, keeping clean-up to a minimum and allowing work to be completed with smaller crews.
• HTC limits the digging as much as possible.
• Our crews cut existing grass or sod such that most, if not all, of it can be salvaged and replaced.
• Tarps are placed on the ground beside the locations where digging is taking place in order to protect the landscape.

The completed FTTH network brings individuals internet service that is much faster than cable or DSL and provides businesses, schools, and government offices the capability of almost instant file transfer, video conferencing, and the other benefits that only fiber can provide.

"America's need for speed is driving sustainable, accelerated growth in the deployment of high bandwidth fiber to homes across the country," said Joe Savage, President of the FTTH Council.  "We expect this rate of growth will continue as an increasing number of Americans discover the ease with which video entertainment, gaming, and data applications are delivered through fiber-enabled connections."