Customer requirements in the ever-advancing communications market continues to grow, stretching bandwidth resources and testing the performance of today’s networks. In choosing cabling system solutions, whether for small, medium or large multi site locations, server farms or co-location data centers, network planners have some serious issues to consider. Among these is the decision as to which type and mix of fiber to install to allow for network expansion and upgrades has been a dilemma for many years.
Dark fiber
In the past, industry practice has been to install ‘dark fiber’ to meet future demands. Dark fiber refers to an unused optical fiber in which has been laid but is not being used in fiber-optic communications. The dark fiber strategy however is by no means risk-free, as un-terminated, untested fibers may not be fit for purpose when the time comes to light the fiber in the future.
Air Blown Fiber Systems
Fortunately there is a simple and cost effective solution. Leviton Air Blown Fiber Systems offer solutions for internal and external applications with their market leading Blolite and MicroBlo. The use of Air Blown Fiber Systems gives complete freedom from risk by pre-installing a ducting route and then blowing in the fiber element when required.
The Blolite system is versatile with backbone and / or fiber to the desk links and can even allow for long distance links of up to 1km. Blolite is easily installed using compressed air and fibers are easy to terminate and are compatible with all standard optical connectors.
Blolite is extremely reliable, with a zero failure rate since the first installations in 1988. It is no surprise that major users such as Manchester Airport, IBM, Ericsson, ABN Amro, the British MoD, Aerospatiale, Pfizer and the British and US Navies have taken advantage of the system.
