Different modes of using fibre creates difference in performance of FTTH. Get an idea about the impact of single Mode fibres on FTTH.
Optical fibers have always served as a perfect means of communication and data transfer when it comes to really large distances and when the data is required to be transmitted at very high bandwidths. Due to their minute size and a very high data transfer capacity, to buy single mode fibre have been the first choice of the inter-continent communications all over the world.
These, days, plans are in the pipeline to start a FTTH (Fibers to the homes) scheme worldwide and an initiative from Google has already been taken. This would enable the users to get a single line for all their telephone, television and internet needs and that too at unbeatable speeds. The optical fiber development has paved a way for this scheme and it seems that the scheme will be possible all around the globe pretty soon. The fibers are expected to replace the normal DSL cable modems soon and the whole world will be having a unified communication system.
Since, this FTTH scheme is anticipated to be used by a whole lot of users, it is necessary to consider the cost budgets for these fibers. As a result the Single Mode Fibers (SMF) seems to be the most viable option. Though these fibers present the advantages of low cost and high data capacity but there is a certain disadvantage as well.
If these fibers are to be used to provide communication access to the homes, these are supposed to be bent for a whole lot of reasons. First of all, while underground installation, they are to be bent in order to make room for flexibility and stretch for certain conditions and also considering the temperature shifts that result in contraction and expansion of these fibers, they need to be left sagged a bit. The Fibers are also supposed to be installed in a helically bent pattern in order to make up for the limited underground space that can be utilized for laying down this fiber network.
Also while installing these fibers into the homes of the consumers, these will be bent around the sharp corners that result into really high losses and there are chances of breaks in these fibers.
In order to overcome all these challenges, a specially designed bend insensitive fibers have been developed that will really have a positive impact on this FTTH scheme. These fibers can be bent and handled easily around the sharp corners of the walls and also they can be packed sharply either while transporting or while underground installation.
These bend insensitive fibers have a much tighter bend radius of around 15 mm and as much as 50 % lesser bending losses and bend sensitive as compared to a normal and conventional Single Mode Fibers. The studies have proved that when these new fibers are bent around a mandrel of diameter of 30mm, no attenuation losses were noticed at all thus, preserving the entire signal strength intact.
Industrially, this innovation has led to development and easy manufacturing of miniature and portable fiber equipment such as entry ports and closures that are to be fitted at the consumer’s premises under the FTTH scheme. These fibers exhibit excellent optical and laser properties even when bent a lot and under extreme permissible temperature conditions.
So, in a nutshell, these ultra-low bending radius and bending insensitive fibers will make it really very easy to be laid underground, considering all the city conditions and also it will be easier for them to be installed flexibly all around the consumers’ premises without any significant signal attenuation.
So, these new SMF have really made it possible for the FTTH scheme to be plausible worldwide really very soon.