CATflow: dé FTTH en FTTD oplossing

CATflow

Communication Revolution

The communication revolution throughout the whole world has taken giant leap during the last couple of years. However it is still a long way to go before the full potential of today’s technology is utilized. For those who own and operate networks the two main challenges are to get the network up and running as soon as possible and to be prepared for increased demand in the future. In addition, if trends continue, the opportunities offered by broadband will continue to grow at an extraordinarily rapid rate. To illustrate this, the figure compares how long it took various innovations
to achieve 30 % uptake. For example, whereas it took the telephone some 40 years to do so, broadband has needed just five years, so you can imagine the phenomenal growth potential that broadband and blown fibre have to offer.

CATflow is a new technology

Catway introduces a new technology that meets the demands of utilisation, flexibility and more robust, these demands are a vital part of the development. Catway introduce the unique concept CATflow.

The fundamentals of the revolutionary system CATflow:

• a protective standardized canalisation
• individual microducts that are deployed into the protective canalisation
• branch-outs and joints create continuous routes throughout the canalisation
• deployment of fibre optic cables that withstand outdoor condition
• the blow-technology is a combination of blowing and pushing the cable
• support with planning and documentation of the network

The concept of CATflow enables the owner of the networks to give a quick and easy access to the networks for end-users. This easy and quick access has not been possible with existing technologies. At the same time, CATflow increases the lifetime of the investment for network owners, this is a very important factor that earlier technologies have not been able to accommodate. The networks can be upgraded, built out and more robust in a way that is easier and more cost efficient than ever before. Some important features that can be highlighted are:

The revolution of the fibre networks

CATflow is a concept based on single microducts that are deployed in a protecting canalization of HDPE-pipes. Branch outs from the canalization is easily done with Y-joints. An empty microduct is branched out at the point and a connection to the customer is done with an easy manageable joint. With the well known blow-technology a small but robust outdoor micro-cable is then deployed into the premises of the customer. Because of this each customer will have his own dedicated micro-cable that has not been spliced on the way.

30 % or more in cost savings

It is not the fibre cable that is the most expensive part of the new infrastructure. The most expensive parts are the work that needs to be done to put the infrastructure in place and the active components. The active equipment will have to be replaced gradually as new technologies are deployed into the market – this equipment is most crucial for the distribution of new services through the network. The prices of this equipment are decreasing as the demand grows. To lower the costs for the contractors that are used to build the infrastructure is therefore crucial. CATflow is not only a technologically advanced and superior system for the design and installation networks – it is also a unsurpassed tool to reduce the costs of contractors when building future proof infrastructures.

Comparisons can be done between an installation of a 288 fibre cable and installation of CATflow. Traditionally a 288 fibre cable is deployed into an existing canalisation, the alternative is CATflow, with this system there is a possibility to deploy 5 pcs of 10 mm microducts followed by 5 separate cables of 72 fibres each. The graph to the right shows the direct advantages when using CATflow and that the initial costs are reduced up to 60 %. Future upgrades are only done when needed, this means that the owner does not need to invest more than necessary. CATflow is also ready to accommodate future technologies i.e. when new fibre technologies are introduced. The unused microducts are ready to accommodate upgrades with the latest technologies.

Flexibility with Micro-canalization

The CATflow concept enables so many different configurations that it is difficult to find a network with demands that can not be accommodated with this concept. Example show 6 pcs 10 mm Microducts in a 40 mm Optopipe.

Grow with your needs

The strengths of the concept is its ability to enable the network to grow with its need. The initial investment will be lower as the exact amount of fibres can be deployed and installed to accommodate the needs of the customers in each area. The fibre cable is deployed only when to existing customers and customers that want to connect. New customers can be connected with short lead-times and existing customers will not get their connection disrupted or disconnected during the connection of new customers.

What if the need for fibre is greater than existing canalization?

Many owners of networks can recognize the problem of fully utilized canalization but a growing need for fibre deployment. The alternative to dig a new canalization alongside existing routes is never attractive neither from an economic perspective nor a time perspective, however there are alternatives! It is now possible to deploy more capacity on routes where existing canalization is filled with fibre-cable. To install one more fibre-cable or one more micro-duct into an existing canalization saves time, digging, paper work involved in obtaining permissions and in the long term also money. Adding to this is the possibility of disruption disconnection of existing traffic in the network that can occur when digging and installing.
The currently used method that has been on the market for a long time is to install a second cable. The alternative is to use the CATflow concept and increase the capacity and flexibility of the network dramatically. Another advantage when applying CATflow is that it is very easy to add drop-off-points to customers along the planned route.

Second cable in existing canalization

It is possible to install a second cable in an already used canalization. The best result is accomplished when the diameter of the second cable is slightly wider than the first, in this case it is possible to accomplish relatively long blowing distances. In practice, blowing distances of approximately 1000 m have been accomplished using this method. The result depends on the weight of the second cable and the diameter of both of the cables.

More microducts in existing optopipes with cable

CATflow is a concept that has many cost saving features. One of those is installation of microcanalisation into existing canalisation where a cable already has been deployed. Another feature of CATflow are microducts that come in diameters of 5 mm, 7 mm and 10 mm. In these microducts special designed cables are installed with a fiber-count up to 72 fibres. The best result is accomplished when the 10 mmducts are deployed into the optopipes.

The results show that it is possible to blow micro-canalization into existing canalization where a cable previously has been deployed, in these cases the microducts have been blown in with using air. In some specific cases the blowing procedure can be done using water. After installation of micro-canalisation the branch-outs can be done using different connections from the CATflow concept.

Spin-Off on the Backbone

Do you today know how your backbone should look like in the future? Do you know what capacity it needs? Do you want to have a future proof network? CATflow gives you the opportunity to quickly start the building of a backbone or a trunk/access. At the same time you will still be able to accommodate deployment of new cables or nodes on the route. The network owner can therefore look at future development of technology with confidence when using CATflow. There is one thing that we can be certain about – new fibre-technologies will emerge before long.

International standard

The benefits of blown fibre are becoming more widely accepted across the world. A new International Standard for blown fibre has been written and is now nearing finalisation. It is called, ”IEC 60794-5: Microduct Cabling for Installation by Blowing” and includes sections for indoor and outdoor products, using tube bundle products, fibre units, and fibre mini-cables. The test methods referenced are from IEC 60794-1-2 and are internationally recognised. Catway support these test methods fully.

Components used in the system