How old is fiber optic cable

A fiber-connected home can deliver an exceptional experience across all devices and internet-connected systems, from home security to smart thermostats, ovens, refrigerators and other appliances. As an example, this is how long it would take, on average, to download a large media file 6. CenturyLink is continually expanding its fiber-optic network across the country. Check availability today and see if you can get Fiber service where you live!

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Manage My Services. Find Available Services. Was this page helpful? CenturyLink Services Support. Home Phone. All Rights Reserved. Residential Small Business Chat. Hi-speed fiber internet connectivity is integral in both cases. Libraries: Particularly during economic downturns, libraries become a haven for the public, providing computers and internet access, books and movies for inexpensive entertainment, and assistance with online job searching.

Regardless of the economic climate, libraries are automated to the point that users can download digital media from home, reserve and renew books online, and access a myriad of web-based enrichment and educational tools. Not surprisingly, according to some studies, the greatest positive economic impact is likely to be realized in rural underserved communities. This assertion is quite logical when one considers population density, income and education demographics, and the current economy in rural America.

Rural America, simply put, has the most room for economic growth. Across the country, municipalities are working on building reliable broadband in their area so their communities can be competitive in the modern economy. Whether they are looking to the FCC for help or turning to their local ISPs for partnerships, municipalities are still taking on an extremely costly and complicated project.

With thousands, if not millions of dollars being invested, municipalities need to consider the longevity of the Internet medium they choose. Whether you are an ISP, a municipality, when it comes to building fiber infrastructure there are challenges, and concerns. Here are five to be sure to consider:.

There are two ways to build fiber infrastructure, and each come with their own challenges to consider:. Building new poles is not just an issue of cost, which is very high, but geography and local policy. Once you find that perfect spot, local regulation is going to determine whether or not you can actually build it there. Even municipalities working to install community networks have to consider existing utility infrastructure when putting up new poles.

The upside of installing or owning poles is that they can be leased out in the future. Buried cables can be dangerous if not properly labeled. No matter which technique is chosen there are going to be some recurring challenges and concerns.

Not checking can be life-threatening if someone ends up accidentally digging up anything with high voltage. Dig Safe is a nonprofit clearinghouse that works with utility service to ensure the safety of a dig site.

Before anyone digs, they should go to the Dig Safe website to understand the proper procedure. Equipment cost is another consideration. Special machinery has to be used to pull up existing conduit, and plow, trench or bore fiber into the ground.

Submarine trenching can be an especially costly, but necessary, project to undertake. The last thing to consider is how much of a commotion digging is actually going to cause.

A municipality planning on providing new infrastructure to a whole town is more than likely going to have to go right through the center of town. That means pulling up existing infrastructure, like roads and sidewalks, then inevitably having to repair them. Not only is this expensive, but it also leads to road closures that ultimately annoy everyone in the community. This issue led to the Dig once practice.

When A Municipality works on utility projects, like a water main, they use that opportunity to place broadband structure as well. This way they save money and avoid inconveniencing their community multiple times. No matter how you cut it, bury it, or string it up fiber projects involve a lot of manpower. These are not jobs just anyone can do. Parts of the process can be contracted, such as the trenching, but the majority involves full-time experience employees.

Licensed professionals will have to be hired to run the heavy machinery. Planning infrastructure requires experienced engineers to map out where and how networks will be built.

Engineers have to take care of poles even in dangerous situations. It can sometimes end up being more trouble than it is worth, resulting in that project being put aside for another. One of the reasons it is often easier for municipalities to work in partnership with ISPs to build fiber infrastructure is because of the experienced and expensive personnel needed.

This is a challenge for any business venture that involves large expensive projects. Building fiber involves a very large upfront cost. Unfortunately, it takes years for the company to see a return on investment. Unfortunately, not every home is going to subscribe to fiber. The general monthly cost of the provider has to be subtracted from the monthly cost before you can tell what the actual profit will be, and usually, that is above half of the monthly cost.

A municipality building fiber is looking return on investment is going to be much different, because this investment is about community growth and prosperity, not a fiscal profit. The return on investment a municipality looks for is going to depend on what their broadband goals were. Some common returns on investment are:. Broadband infrastructure is a hot-button issue in government right now. From Washington to your local state house politicians are trying to decide the best way to connect us all.

Whatever changes the government makes, now or in the future, have to be carefully considered by anyone building fiber infrastructure. One way government is helping build better broadband is by providing grant money to ISPs and municipalities. This is great for ISPs because it balances out the high cost of building fiber in rural areas. When an ISP builds new infrastructure in one specific rural area, they can delegate other funds to connect homes they pass along the way.

What is a fiber-optic network? Fiber-optic internet Fios -- the most awarded network for internet service satisfaction over the past 10 years. Definitions of terms related to fiber optics. Broadband Definition Broadband is the transmission of wide bandwidth data over a high speed internet connection.

Learn more. Bandwidth Definition The maximum amount of data transmitted over an internet connection in a given amount of time. Breakages have been seen, but these are predominantly where fibers have been removed from cables and bent below their permitted bend radius. In fact, provided fibers are stored and coiled correctly it is quite possible that they turn out to be stronger than we at first thought and perhaps the original flaws begin to heal with time and exposure to water under low stress levels.

Leaving these non-technical issues aside, it is quite possible that fiber networks themselves could continue to operate, with upgraded optoelectronics, for many years to come - perhaps even for as long as their copper predecessors! Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy Patents. Back to top. Posted by David Stockton. Surface flaws Pristine silica glass that is free of defects is immensely resistant to degradation.

Reducing degradation The user is then left with a fiber containing fewer, smaller flaws that need to be protected from unnecessary degradation. Installation strains We know that stress is a major enemy of fiber longevity, so the protection task is passed to the cabler, who will ensure that the use of suitable strength elements limits the stress applied to the cable to much less than the 1 per cent proof test level. Environmental factors Once deployed, the local environment has a big impact on fiber life.

Calculating how long your network will last Bearing in mind the four factors above, how can you calculate the lifetime of your fiber network? To do this, a network planner needs to take into account two inputs: How flaws are distributed among optical fibers, using the Weibull Distribution The results of fiber strength testing, normally carried out by manufacturers Combining the predicted flaw distribution with crack growth theory has generated several optical fiber lifetime models, which can be seen here.