Whether it’s cabling 5G antennas or wireless access points outside buildings, cabling smart cities or broadband networks in remote areas… the amount of fiber optic (FO) outdoor infrastructure is increasing. What does this mean for connectivity?

——New working conditions

Sunshine, heat, frost, snow, rain, storms, dust and soot... The weather is changeable and not always easy for network operators. In addition, there are pollutant emissions from industry and commerce, which also affect outdoor network installations.

Nonetheless, municipal utilities have been building stable electrical grids in outdoor areas for more than 100 years. Aerial deployment of electricity and telephones has been tried and tested, as has underground wiring.

For decades, conventional copper cables have been sufficient for outdoor use. For example, IP-protected connection technology, including circular connectors, threaded connections and coaxial cables or upgraded RJ45 adapters. UV-resistant plastic housings and rubber seals, such as the splash-proof products from R&M, protect the connectors from external influences.

However, the age of digitalization has brought new working conditions. Now, more bandwidth is needed, which must be provided across the country. That is why the connection lines in outdoor areas are almost always connected with fiber optic connections.

Modern optical fiber offers many advantages but is known to be somewhat sensitive with regard to bend radius, specialized handling and contamination. This raises the question of the stability of modern outdoor connectors.

01

Until now, expanded beam connectors have been considered a practical outdoor solution, especially in broadcast or military applications.

However, their attenuation values and transmission performance do not meet all present and future aspirations. Many expanded beam connectors are too thick and heavy for new applications. In terms of format, they offer few transmission channels.

02

The digital age requires more transmission power and more transmission channels in dense infrastructure than previously imagined.

Example use: Fiber to the Antenna (FTTA). Widely distributed 5G antennas are connected to a fiber optic network to enable the transmission of unimaginable amounts of data in real time.

Fiber connections at antenna sites are constrained by space, performance, and quality requirements similar to those of FTTx nodes or edge data centers. Therefore, only ferrule-based connectors (LC, SC, E-2000™, MPO) can be used. They make physical contact with the fiber head and guarantee low attenuation values. Support for single-mode fiber is now mandatory.

03

1.Robustness: The weather at antenna locations is often harsh. In other words, the connectors and housings must be extremely robust to avoid damaging the sensitive fiber end faces. Dust and moisture can take their toll on high-end fiber connections.

2.Easy to install: Ideally, only a few steps are enough to install and connect the outdoor connector. The blind-mate assembly technology allows the new HEC connector to be connected with one hand with gloves without a clear view, without dirtying or scratching the fiber end face.

3.Hybrid solutions: Depending on the site, antenna, and network architecture, fiber and electrical connections must be accommodated in a single connection box. Power to antenna (PTTA) and FTTA often form a symbiotic relationship. In addition, many outdoor devices in the IoT require power. When fiber and power are routed in one cable, connectivity is simplified.

4. Wide range of applications: In addition to FTTA, other application areas for advanced FO connections in outdoor areas are emerging. For example, augmented reality environments in smart cities, traffic control systems, onshore and offshore wind turbines, FTTH overhead cabling, distributed antenna systems in industrial parks and resorts, autonomous container terminals, robot-controlled greenhouses, etc. Market-compatible fiber connections must be able to support all modern applications.

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