21^st century broadband is coming to Australia via the Federal Government’s commitment to invest over $40 billion over the next 8 years to build a “Fibre to the Home” (FTTH) network. This network will reach even the most remote areas of the country, and keep us on a par with our international trading partners and competitors, some of whom already take this technology for granted.

While this is exciting news to people struggling with out-dated internet access, it’s old hat to companies that have been producing fibre optics equipment for years.

The rolling out of optical fibre cables to every household in Australia will utilise a whole range of support equipment. Some installations will be in “greenfield” situations where there is no existing infrastructure, and work can proceed with minimal disruption and maximum efficiency.

Much of the work however, will involve installing optical fibre cables in existing structures using preinstalled microducts. Cable laying equipment is readily available in Australia. However, there will be challenges to be faced in undertaking this project, and companies planning to involve themselves in developing the National Broadband Network (NBN) would do well to investigate fibre optics equipment designed specifically to use preinstalled microducts.

This type of equipment has the following capabilities:

 Multiple modes of operation

- “Jetting” – which allows the microcables to be installed safely over tortuous microduct rout
- “Push/Pull” – enables installations of microcables inside buildings
- “Floating” – which places microcables into microproducts with the aid of compressed air or water

The following points have also been taken into consideration in the equipment design:

Size and dimensions of existing microducts

- Existing cable infrastructure comes in a wide range of sizes from 0.7mm O.D. to more than 40mm O.D.
- The new optical fibre cables will need to be installed, in many cases, in very small, confined spaces.

The National Broadband Network (NBN) will be delivered in two FTTH formats, overhead and underground. A vast amount of optical fibre cable will be needed, and any cable laying equipment to be used will need to be:

- Reliable and durable
- Manufactured to the highest quality standards
- Backed by solid warranties and a high standard of customer service

Business organisations positioning themselves for involvement in this project need to already be researching their capital, material and labour requirements even at this early stage. They should be establishing partnerships or supplier agreements with fibre optics equipment companies and choosing those who have the most up-to-date technology. Now is the time to get the jump on the opposition.

Cable Laying Products (CLP) is Australia’s leading provider of Fibre Optics Equipment and high quality Cable laying Products. View online today.