Prysmian launches innovative pre-connectorised closure range to speed FTTH applications
Prysmian, the global leader in cable systems, has successfully trialled its new pre-connectorised Compact Multifunction Joint (CMJ) closure on the roll-out of a rural fibre-optic installation.
Installed by External Reality, an internet service provider focused on delivering connectivity in rural and remote locations, the pre-connectorised closure was used to speed up the deployment of fibre to individual properties.
Richard Allan, Managing Director of External Reality, said the closure helped make significant time savings on the installation. "By being able to use pre-terminated blown fibre we're saving between 45 minutes to an hour installation time per property".
The trial took place on Phase 2 of the project, which involves the installation of over 6km of fibre optic cable to 15 properties in the area south of Forres, between the Atyre Estate and Rafford in northeast Scotland. To date, External Reality has installed over 6km of fibre complete with fibre closures manufactured by Prysmian.
Forres, northeast Scotland
Prysmian Group is advancing connectivity by providing a comprehensive portfolio of closures to manage splicing, jointing and distribution of optical fibres throughout a fibre network. Spliced versions of Prysmian's CMJ and Medium Multifunction Joint (MMJ) closures have been used to join lengths of the main optical fibre on this project, while the new pre-connectorised version of the CMJ has been used for customer connections.
Richard says: "We've been using Prysmian SJCs (Small Joint Closures), UMJs (Ultra Compact Multi Function Joints) and CMJs and found them to be really good for spliced connections. What was missing, until now, was a pre-connectorised joint closure, because we've started to use pre-terminated cables to speed up final deployment to individual properties.
"We don't work inbig built-up areas, instead we're often targeting about 20 or so properties spread over 2 or 3 kilometres. I know splicing has become pretty straightforward, but there is the prep-time involved and you don't want to be sat in the corner of a field in the cold splicing if you can help it, so pre-terminated cables and pre-connectorised closures helps simplify and speed the installation".
Richard Allan, External Reality
External Reality had tried pre-connectorised closures from other manufacturers but Richard says these were "quite inflexible" and "did not work particularly well". This project was an ideal opportunity for External Reality to trail the new Prysmian Group pre-connectorised CMJ unit on the final connection to three properties.
Local contractors had already buried the ducting and External Reality had installed the pre-terminated cable, so installation was simply a matter of plugging in the fibre to the pre-connectorised Prysmian CMJ closure, saving both splicing and installation time. "It was good just being able to plug in the cable to complete the installation to this point," Richard explains.
A fibre connection from the CMJ closure connects to a Prysmian Hybrid Drop Box (HDB4) on the outside of each property to enable the final connection.
In addition to the pre-connectorised CMJ saving time, Richard was impressed with the looped cable storage facility at the back of the closure. "What we're doing with the CMJ unit is using the loop storage just to coil the excess cable because we use pre-terminated blown fibre in standard lengths, so the ability to quickly coil it up and drop it into the loop storage at the back of the CMJ is excellent," he says.
Another benefit of using the pre-connectorised CMJ closure is that it uses the same glands to seal the cable entry and exit ports as the standard CMJ closure, which External Realty are already familiar with and like. Richard explains: "It means we don't have to have another set of glands on site just for the pre-connectorised unit, which is excellent".
Pre-connectorised CMJ unit
External Reality has its next three projects lined up in various locations across Scotland. "We'd definitely use Prysmian's pre-connectorised CMJ unit on future schemes, whenever it is appropriate," Richard says.
Anna-Kaisa Köykkä, Sales Manager, Prysmian Telecom Solutions explains that the pre-connectorised Compact Multifunction Joint (CMJ) closure was developed to meet its customer’s specific needs: “We were able to discuss External Reality’s plans and requirements during our distributor Mills’ Fibre Roadshow in Scotland. It was a great opportunity to engage with the end user of our products to develop an innovative product that would bring a real benefit to the customer.”
Nathan Paddick, Connectivity Design Manager, Prysmian UK, Telecom Connectivity explains how the innovation came about: “Prysmian has used its expertise to convert what previously were splice only closures into splice and patch closures for use with pre-connectorised cables designed to speed up installations, whilst maintaining the familiarity of the cable entry gland system”.
Kris Roberts, Global Connectivity Product Development Manager sums up the successful trial: “It was great to spend a day out in the field watching our product being installed, getting an insight to the challenges faced by installers and how our product was able to alleviate some of these. It is great to know that we now have a product that can really help fibre roll out in rural locations”.
Discover more about Prysmian's pre-connectorised closure range.