Pirelli Extends its Blown Fiber Family

MILAN, Italy -- Pirelli has made a significant addition to its blown fibre and cabling portfolio with the introduction of its mini-cable systems, delivering between 12 and 72 fibres per cable and providing telecommunications operators with unprecedented choice in their metropolitan and access network expansion strategies.

The option of installing further mini-ducts and, within them, appropriate mini-cables to reflect changing business conditions, offers significant cost-savings and gives operators tremendous flexibility in planning their networks.

Over the past two years in particular, mini duct systems have become increasingly popular. The most common applications involve small diameter ducts (typically 16mm, 12mm or 10mm) deployed within an existing mains duct.

Richard Thomas, Marketing Director, Pirelli Telecom Cables and Systems said: “As part of our continuing research programme over the past two years we developed and manufactured a range of small diameter cables that are optimised for installation within a wide range of mini-ducts. Our new mini-cable portfolio can also release hidden capacity in ducts that an operator previously considered fully occupied.”

In a traditional 40 mm diameter duct, an operator can choose to deploy up to seven mini-ducts. 24 fibre cables for example could then be simply added over any period of time. “Our system offers the most flexible ‘pay as you grow’ architecture available. Operators have the distinct advantage of deferring all but essential capital investment in the network, building directly according to today’s need. They can increase fibre count in line with demand, installing empty tubes initially and paying for fibre as and when they require,” added Thomas.

Over 20,000 km of mini-cable fibre with up to 72 fibres per cable have already been installed in France. Pilot schemes of a variety of mini-cable sizes are underway with metropolitan operators in UK, Italy, Scandinavia and USA. And approval has been granted in Germany for the 60-fibre mini-cable, now available in a 6 mm construction, making it one of the smallest fibre cable packages commercially available.

Pirelli Cables and Systems