London, 4th September 2006

Fujikura makes light of underground cabling

Fujikura Europe announces the release of its new ‘AirLight’ optical fiber cable for micro-duct cabling

Fujikura Europe launches its new high density optical fiber cable: AirLight for micro duct installations. Specifically designed for micro-duct cabling within existing or new ducting systems it is ideally suitable for air blown technology applications using compressed and dry air.

“AirLight” is a light weight (approx. 30kg/km), compact high density fiber optic cable (approx. 6mm diameter for a 72 fiber cable) and under trial testing it has been blown 2,600 meters into a 10/8mm micro-duct in just 71 minutes!” says Roy Higgins, General Manager at Fujikura Europe Ltd. “This is the longest blowing distance achieved at the test track, we believe.”

As demand increases for products suitable for local information networks, CATV and FTTx applications, so too is the challenge of deploying fibre in constrained network environments. To reduce the cost of access for FTTx network installations, the primary consideration is to efficiently utilise the existing duct infrastructure.

“Customers are looking for solutions to real world problems.” adds Higgins. “With our new AirLight cable we can maximise capacity and minimise expenditure. Compared to a conventional cable (say one 288 fiber loose tube cable) a micro-duct installation has the capacity of 360 fibers (five 10/8 micro-duct with five 72 fiber AirLight cables) and far more flexibility.”

“Fujikura has developed a vast array of additional FTTx fibre optic products, many of which have become tried and trusted in the Japanese market where FTTH has already started in anger and which are now available for the just-starting European FTTx market.” concludes Higgins.

Fujikura supplies a wide range of FTTx accessories, as well as AirLight for site installation by blowing into standard size sub-ducts ranging between ¾” – 2” diameter; as well as armoured, anti-rodent, anti-termite and low smoke zero halogen for use inside buildings.

For more information contact Fujikura Europe on +44 (0) 20 8240 2000 or visit www.fujikura.co.uk. Fujikura is exhibiting at ECOC 2006 on stand 620.