Abstract

Since being introduced in the early 1980’s air blown fiber technology has been used primarily in premise applications. With the introduction of more rugged, compact micro cables, designed specifically for blowing applications, this technology is being more widely considered for outside plant applications. The attributes of this technology make it particularly well suited for FTTH deployments.

An air blown fiber infrastructure begins with the installation of specially designed microducts. Sufficient empty microduct capacity is installed initially to provide for future network growth and change. Ducts are easily joined together with simple mechanical connectors. Conventional outside plant closures are used to protect the integrity of these joints. Once the microduct network has been completed, micro cables are blown into these microducts, as needed, to meet current network requirements. More micro cables can be added to empty microducts, as needed to support changing requirements over time.

Air blown fiber deployments are an economical method of providing a truly future proof network infrastructure. First installed costs are minimized since only the fiber necessary for current requirements is installed. Additional investment in the infrastructure will occur only as the need arises, and therefore in FTTH applications, can directly link the infrastructure cost to the revenue stream from new subscribers.

We will present sample FTTH network architectures, with cost comparisons between air blown fiber and conventional fiber optic cabling schemes. In addition, we will present data on actual micro cable deployments throughout the world.

© 2005 Optical Society of America