The duct protects fiber optic cable from the harsh environment. Duct cables must be rigid yet flexible enough to be installed into duct systems. This article will lead you to know about duct cable.
What is Duct Cable?
Duct cable (or conduit) offers a highly protective environment for fiber-optic cable. The duct is typically buried, and then the cable is air-blown, jetted, pulled, or pushed into the duct. Duct cable can be well protected by the pipe after installation and has high safety performance, high bandwidth, lightweight, flexible, water and temperature-resistant, and EMI-immune. For different construction sites, it can be a non-armored cable, armored cable, and micro-blown cable.
Applications
Duct cables are typically installed into the duct, they are widely applied in long-distance communication,inter-office communication, metropolitan area networks(MAN),access networks, FTTH networks, and backbone networks.
Installation Method
Generally, there are two methods for fiber optic cable installation into a duct, the pulling and air-blowing methods.
Pulling Method
The pulling Method refers to cable installation into pre-installed underground ducts by manual pulling or by a puller machine. In this method, the cable is pulled through the duct with the help of a pre-installed rope inside the duct. The pulling method is generally preferred in access networks where underground ducts are not continuous for more than 200 to 300 meters. Under this condition, the fiber cable needs to be stored in coil form at each manhole/handhole available every 200 to 300 meters. Thus, fiber optic cable installation into a duct using a pulling method is suitable for apply within short distances.
Air Blowing Method
Air blowing method using high-speed air flow combined with additional mechanical pushing force. This method includes high air speed blowing and push/pull (piston) blowing. The basic principle is injecting the compressed air into the duct and then they flow at high speed through the duct and along the cable. The uni-tube, multi-tube, unarmored and armored cable, and micro duct cable, can be installed by using Air blowing. This method applies to continuous lengths of more than 1000 meters.
Conclusion
Duct cable provides the flexible, durable, and best protection for fiber optic cable and an opportunity for future cable expansion. In addition, the duct cable makes the city look neater. Sun Telecom provides all duct cable products and solutions to the global market.