ftth conference 2011 workshop mdu cabling choices thomas knuth corning

MDU Cabling Choices:An Ongoing Challenge

Dr. Thomas KnuthProgram Manager, MDU, Global Corning Cable Systems

2© Corning Incorporated 2011

Content

• MDU Application SpaceStill a fragmented scenario

• Architectural Approaches for Various MDU Building Types Small – Medium – Large Buildings

• Common Themes Across All Deployment Scenarios

• Key Lessons Learned


The Multidwelling Unit (MDU): A Challenging Space to Deploy

• Experience shows

NO !

• But: Try to find the most balanced solution for your individual roll-out scenario

• There are various factors influencing MDU deployment scenarios

Regulation

Fiber Count

Deployment Speed

Total Cost

Available Labor

Building sizesArchitecture Local Preferences Network Quality

• Is there an ideal solution to cover all aspects?


First Phases of urban mass housing construction • Apartment buildings to 6 floors• Total height rarely exceeded 30 m• Buildings were arranged around traffic knots • Built as closed quarters

Modern Phase ‘Satellite’ cities were created • Standardized building elements • In groups of large individual buildings • Many more floors per building

Today, urban housing returned to more ‘pleasant’ type• New buildings must match the overall appearance of

area• Returned to the sizes used in the beginning of the

20th century

Use Building Size As Basic Design Criteria


What Do The Statistics Tell Us?

Large size10%-30%

Medium size60%-85%

Small size5%-10%

Three distinct architectural types, which could serve as basic segmentation


Most Relevant MDU Architectures To Cover Basic Segmentation


Small MDUs Small buildings usually served by a direct-drop architecture from central distribution point (basement or outside)

Pigtail runs directly to customer

Various connectivity options on

customer side


Summary Of Value Proposition – Small MDUs

Space requirement

Logistical efforts

Need for very skilled labor

Applicable for single fiber or multi-fiber

Speed of deployment

Use of small bend-insensitive cable

Use of standard length

Pre-connectorised solution & field-installable connector

Scalable with fiber count per drop cable

More cable to pull but little hardware to install

Medium Medium No Yes Medium

Key deployment factors:


Medium-sized MDUs

The medium-sized building segment is the major part of European MDU architectures:

• Driver for business cases• Focus of deployment efforts Need for cost-effective and fast-to-deploy solution

Various architecture approaches exist side by side:

• Fully pre-connectorised cables• Partly pre-connectorised cables• Fully spliced cable solution


Medium-sized MDUsMedium-sized buildings are often served by a central riser and various floor terminal

Single- or multi-fiber

connectivity in basement and

riser

Single-fiber connectivity and

field-installed connectors


Pulling the cable from the bottom to the top until the branching off points are on the floor level

Removing protection sleeves for floor break out cable assembly by rip cord

Basement

1. floor

2. floor

3. floor

4. floor

5. floor

Connecting the pre-connectorised cable assembly to the floor terminal

Connecting the pre-connectorised bottom end of the riser cable with the basement distribution terminal

Splicing the distribution cable in the basement distribution terminal

Fast Solution For Riser:Cable Assembly – Installation in MDU


Pre-Connectorised vs. Conventional Solutions


Summary Of Value Proposition

Space requirement

Logistical efforts



Speed of deployment

Small due to multi-fiber cable

Basic building survey

Pre-connectorised solution

Scalable with multi-fiber connector

Fast to pull, quickest to connect

Low Medium No Yes Very High



High-rise MDUsHigh buildings are well served by using multi-fiber connectivity

Multi-fiber connectivity in

basement, riser and floor

Multi Single connector for customer area


Basement terminal

Legend

Drop cable

Floor Terminal

Collapsiblereel

Riser cable

Indoor Distribution

Hub

High-rise Installation Technique


High-rise MDUs

Space requirement

Logistical efforts



Speed of deployment

Small riser cable

Use of standard length

Pre-connectorised solution

Scalable due to multi-fiber connector

Easy to pull, quick to connect

Low Low No Yes High



Architecture Summary – Key Lessons Learned

Plug & play approach to save precious labor time & cost

Installed fiber cable type matters (uncontrolled environment)

Power budget considerations drive architectures – look at it carefully

Combined hardware, cable and fiber expertise allows creation of real solutions

Quality and reliability are not to be compromised

Make sure you understand your available labor force

Based on Corning’s wealth of experience in deploying various architecture types globally, we believe:

There is something in common with most of these:


How To Understand the Plug & Play Approach Best• Look at all deployment aspects

First-installed cost, labor cost, deployment speed for homes passed, take rate, available labor force etc.

• Good approach is to model and compare potential scenarios:

Model of cost break down of architectural choices

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Pre-connectorisedsolution

Fully spliced risersolution

Direct drop solution

Exam

ple

Labor costMaterial cost

Model of deployment time break down of architectural choices

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Pre-connectorisedsolution

Fully spliced risersolution

Direct drop solution

Exam

ple

Installation time HCInstallation time HP


The Problem

FTTH requires fiber cable to be deployed in very challenging environments:

As fiber cable gets inside the private space• Meets more aggressive environment and

handling• Space constraints • Higher installation speed requirements• De-skilled installation practices to lower labour

cost (e.g. no ducting)• More likely to experience unwanted/accidental

public access • Required to be more aesthetically pleasing As a result, the fiber cable …• Has an increased chance of inappropriate

installation procedures• Can experience tighter bends, crush etc.• Needs to be treated “like copper”

Installed Fiber Cable Type Matters Most


Uncontrolled Environment:Requires Highest Bending Performance

Choosing the right G657 fiber for your cable

A3*: proposed new ITU-T G.657 category

FTTH requires fiber cable to be deployed in very challenging

environments Category AG.652 Compliant

5mm

Category BG.652 Compliance

not required

7.5 mm

10 mm G.657.A1

G.657.A2

G.657.A3*

G.657.B1

G.657.B2

G.657.B3


Maximum Value Analysis- Quick & Simple - Data readily available - Leads to over-engineered networks

& wastage of power budget

Gaussian Statistical Analysis- Relatively quick - Data can be gained from median and STD values- Fixed link length - Gives more accurate prediction of probability of power budget compliance- Can reveal more power budget margin

Monte Carlo Statistical analysis- Takes more time to do analysis - Uses accurate link length distribution - Provides the most accurate prediction of power budget compliance - Allows for most efficient use of available power budget

Power Budget Drives Architectures: Choose Carefully


Power Budget Drives Architectures: Choose Carefully

Proposal

• Use Monte Carlo approach to model your network

• Factor in fiber cable bend performance

• Watch out for aging behavior of components (e.g., splitter)

Reward:

• A networks model which comes closest to real life

• Architectural choices can be validated based on facts


• MDU cabling options are still a challenge

• There is no ‘one fits all,’ but grouping of building types can be done

• Build the MDU architecture for major groups in your local area

• Balance design choice based on your individual goals

• Various key tools are available to help make right decisions

• Use experience from already-installed FTTH networks, but continue to expect surprises

Key Takeaways Summary

ftth conference 2011 workshop mdu cabling choices thomas knuth corning

Technology

riser corning incorporated

floor corning incorporated

customer corning incorporated

yesmedium corning incorporated

yeshigh corning incorporated

distribution cable

fiber cable type

cable standard connectorised