In the current world, a kilometer of fibre-optic cable is more valuable than a kilometer of road.
Shailesh Rao, VP, International Operations, Twitter.
Optical fibre is still the king of internet connectivity
The thirst for data across the world has skyrocketed as most companies embrace the path of digital transformation. By mid-2022, there were 5.03 billion internet users globally, which is around 63.1% of the global population. In this study, approximately 4.7 billion people, or 59% of the population, were social media users. To meet this growing demand, network deployment must be accelerated like never before throughout the world. Among all the connectivity options, fibre broadband still remains the undisputed king of transmission technology, surpassing DSL, cable, and wireless networks.
Consequently, CSPs are investing billions of dollars yearly in fibre rollout for network expansion. The OPEX expenditure is going through the roof due to fibre deployment inefficiencies, especially with the time spent laying optical fibres using conventional methods that involve manual processes. India currently has 35.11% fibreization and must complete the fibre rollout of 35 lakh km by 2025 to power 5G, data centers, and other internet-operated technologies.
Thanks to the latest fibre Deployment Solutions developed through research and rigorous testing, service providers now have a chance to improve their operational efficiency of fibre deployment. By integrating cutting-edge technologies, most of the fibre rollout tasks can be automated and optimized so that maximum optical fibres are laid out daily to meet global deployment goals.
fibre Deployment Pitfalls
CSPs face a host of challenges during large-scale fibre rollout projects. Such projects usually include long distances and complicated processes that need end-to-end process management and frequent communication across multiple channels, from internal management to various vendors. Unwanted project delays and missing to reach milestones within the deadline are major fibre deployment pain points. The multi-layered fibreization projects are complex and are primarily driven by unorganized players with unskilled labor and a lack of proper planning. Consequently, many problems arise, slowing down the fibreization and digital inclusion projects. Some of the obstacles that reduce the fibre deployment speed are:
- Time-consuming field surveys: The accuracy of the initial fibre deployment route relies on the digital data quality collected. However, the final plan requires actual site surveys to capture route information like space availability for cabinet placement along the road or the pole, whether fibre laying has to be done on the right or left corners of the road, whether any buildings are being built on the fibre deployment route design, or are there any significant obstacles like big rocks blocking the deployment route, etc. Traditionally, surveys are done manually, which requires more resources, and can create delays in the fibre rollout process.
- Multiple Approvals: fibre laying, ducting, and other activities of fibre rollout take a lot of time, effort, and human resources. This includes getting multiple approvals from various authorities like municipal corporations, traffic controller boards, highway authorities, local apartment societies, telephone departments, electricity departments, water and sewage departments, etc. There are also added responsibilities of communicating with the construction firms that dig trenches, build ducts, do fibre laying and pulling, and perform other manual activities.
- Skilled labor shortage: Nowadays, it’s no big secret that the skilled workforce is in big shortage across the world. This is especially true when it comes to the technicians that work on fibre deployment, from laying the cable to last-mile connectivity. In addition, as CSPs expand their territories, new subscribers are being added exponentially, requiring more fibre laying. In turn, more workers are needed to maintain the speed of the fibre rollout. Also, this is a specialist job, and when senior employees retire, the new recruits may require extensive training, leading to further delays in fibre deployment.
Cutting-edge technologies that accelerate fibre rollout by many folds
Using Robotics for Automating Fibre Deployment
The field of robotics is advancing every day, and companies are using robots to deploy aerial fibres using the already available electrical infrastructure. Such a system significantly reduces the cost of fibre deployment. Moreover, such technology can make fibre accessible in terrains where underground duct construction is difficult.
Using Preconfigured Categorized Solutions
Using preconfigured elements may avoid misinterpretation and allow you to deploy fibres more efficiently. You can use pre-connector fibres and pre-installed ducts for maximum efficiency.
Using Unified Deployment Platforms
Closures and terminals have to be compatible with the kind of deployment in order for them to be used. It is advisable to make use of a unified platform that is compatible with a variety of FTTx installations, such as low-density rural, single residential, multi-fibre, and so on. This practice will increase the deployment speed as you eliminate the step of deciding appropriate closures and terminals.
Smarter approaches to cabling
Delays in fibre deployment typically occur in the last mile. This is because traditional laying and splicing takes a long time. Also, splicing is a tricky task and requires a skilled workforce, which is often challenging.
CSPs are shifting to fibre indexing in their fibre-to-home distribution networks to accelerate the fibre installation time and minimize the overall effort. This strategy keeps connectorized fibres and terminals with the same components, daisy-chained in a plug-and-play mode. By configuring the optical fibres and integrated service terminals in this manner, they can be rolled out quickly, easily, and at reduced labor costs.
Conclusion
The future of digital transformation depends on how fast we can perform fibre deployment across the globe so that all the new technologies are powered by high-speed internet. If we manage to overcome the challenges that slow down fibre deployment, we can see the light at the end of the hyperscale internet connectivity tunnel, especially with 5G becoming the heart of the digital revolution 4.0. By integrating the above-discussed technologies, we can not only accelerate fibre rollout many folds but also reduce costs in the long run, enabling CSPs to offer fibre broadband at an affordable tariff for both households and businesses.