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Cost Optimizing
Outside Plant
Cable Assemblies
Cost Optimizing
Outside Plant
Cable Assemblies
Reducing up-front expenses in any FTTP architecture plays into every decision
a carrier makes about solutions deployed in any particular situation. Reaching
customers quickly and easily with robust, flexible, and reliable connectivity for
delivering voice, data, and video services requires careful planning and good
decision making. The introduction of hardened connectors and drop cables
using multiport service terminals (MSTs) enables carriers to accelerate FTTP
deployment, provide rapid service turn-up and enable operational cost savings
throughout the life of the network.
Plug-and-play designs allow faster and easier methods of pushing fiber closer to
homes and businesses while providing substantial benefits to the carriers in terms
of both cost and time savings. These advantages include reducing the workforce
necessary to install the finished cable assemblies. This provides additional
manpower for other areas of the network build-out. All the equipment—MSTs
to hardened connectors and drop cables—are manufactured and tested to meet
every standard required for robust environmental performance.
Now ADC has taken its plug-and-play FTTP architecture to a new level with its
Advanced Termination System (ATS)—a cost-effective approach to placing fiber
network outside plant (OSP) distribution cabling. With ATS, distribution and drop
cable distances are pre-measured at the installation site and then customized
assemblies are built in the factory. The entire solution is then packaged on reels
and delivered for rapid deployment. Each piece is pre-connectorized at the
access points, requiring splicing only at the end of the distribution run.
Cost Optimizing Outside Plant Cable Assemblies
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Engineering methodology
Each ATS is unique to the specific architectural design of
the build-out, with each cable assembly measured for its
specific purpose and placement. The custom cables are
strung along the streets from pole to pole with connector
access points at pre-designated pole locations.
One cable, for example, may be 500 to 2,000 feet
in length with from 3 to 12 or more access points.
Each access point may consist of 4, 6, 8, or 12 fiber
connections for connecting the drops to each
subscriber along the network route.
Therefore, it’s critical that the engineers get precise
measurements between pole locations for rapid aerial
deployment of the system. These measurements are
typically taken using a sophisticated laser range finder
that allows them to measure in both directions,
using an averaging technique to obtain a very
accurate measurement.
Below-ground measurements are accomplished using
a tape technique whereby a tape is pulled between
the hand holes through a conduit system and then
measured. All measurement documentation showing
all access points, the numbers of terminated fibers,
fiber counts for all distribution cables, and how each
cable is connected to the access points, is sent back
to the factory for system assembly.
Web-based configuration tools are being developed
that will simplify the engineering process. Once the
documentation arrives at the factory, production
can begin on each cable assembly necessary for

the ATS deployment.
Access point technology
Access point technology refers to the means of accessing
the cable sheath mid-span, removing part of the sheath
while maintaining structural element integrity, and
accessing and extracting the necessary fibers. A tether
is then spliced onto the extracted fibers. This tether can
be as short as five feet for aerial applications, or as long
as 15 feet or more for below-grade applications.
At the end of the tether, a multifiber connector serves as
the primary means for fiber deployment. The multifiber
connector could have 4, 6, 8, or 12 fiber terminations.
Processing the orders
Meanwhile, back at the factory, the custom ATS is built
according to the engineering specifications supplied
through the actual measurements. Each cable assembly
is carefully measured, fitted with the appropriate access
points, and packaged on a lightweight, compact plastic
reel for rapid deployment in the field. Proper packaging is
a key element of the production process. The plastic reels
are reusable for multiple placements and are compatible
with 415 reels.
Deployment techniques
There are two basic deployment techniques for the ATS—
aerial and below grade. For aerial deployment, there are
two methods, fixed reel and moving reel.
The aerial fixed reel two-pass hand/lash method involves
actually stationing the cable assembly reels at the first
pole location. From there, installers move toward the
central office (CO) first, pulling the cable off the reel.

A series of guides or pulleys enable the cable to be pulled
more easily and strung up along the strand. Installers
then work one pass, pole to pole, down the line until
the entire cable is in place. Finally, installers lash the
cable onto the strand using a lashing machine—perhaps
directly over a copper cable that is already in place.
For the aerial moving reel single-pass hand/lash
technique, the cable reel is actually loaded onto a truck.
As the truck moves down the line, the reel unwinds and
the cable assembly is fed out, pulled up into place, and
lashed in one motion. The entire process is completed
in one pass.
A stationary spool placed on a reel stand is used for the
below-grade deployment technique. Cable is pulled from
the reel through a duct system. In some cases, the cable
is pulled in both directions for proper alignment. The
ATS can also be direct buried or deployed within multi-
dwelling units (MDUs).
Testing
Each ATS is tested using a loopback plug that is
pre-installed on the cable at the factory. Once the
cable is spliced into place, it can be tested from the
fiber distribution hub (FDH) out to the access point
locations using a standard loopback testing technique.
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Specifications published here are current as of the date of publication of this document. Because we are continuously

improving our products, ADC reserves the right to change specifications without prior notice. At any time, you may
verify product specifications by contacting our headquarters office in Minneapolis. ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
views its patent portfolio as an important corporate asset and vigorously enforces its patents. Products or features
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105853AE 2/08 Original © 2008 ADC Telecommunications, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Terminal placement
MST placement can be accomplished at any time—even deferred until any point in the future. Each
terminal will typically have a tether with a hardened multifiber connector attached at the factory. The
multifiber connected tether enables incredibly fast deployment time. These MSTs can be mounted in a
variety of ways—aerial strand, pole mount, pedestal mount, and below grade in hand holes and vaults.
Terminal connector ports are clearly marked with numbers for quick drop cable connections, and the
hardened adapters are factory cleaned and compatible with OptiTap connectors. Again, the multifiber
connector termination can accommodate 4, 6, 8, or 12 fibers for mating to the ATS distribution cable
at the access point.
Drop cables
Once the MSTs are secured, the drop cables provide easy connectivity to the optical network terminal
(ONT) at each subscriber premise. The drop cables can be connected above or below ground. Since
the drop cables are pre-connectorized at the factory, deployment can be accomplished faster and
with less-skilled technicians.
If the MST is located in a hand hole, the drop cable is installed in a 1.25-inch duct or direct buried with
a tracing wire. An aerial MST application requires an all-dielectric or figure 8 drop from a pole or strand
to each subscriber ONT.
Summary
The obvious advantage of the ATS is boiled down to time saved which, in turn, substantially reduces
overall deployment costs. The use of hardened connectors and pre-connectorized cables, along with
the multifiber connector tethers, eliminates splicing costs and doesn’t require
highly-skilled splice technicians for assembly.
Further, the ATS enables easy maintenance and troubleshooting access. The unique plug-and-play design
enables faster service turn-up, the ability to handle customer churn, and a more robust and flexible
network—all equating to a faster return on investment and significant operation cost savings during

the life of the network.
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