HFCL’s Award-winning 144-1728F Compact Armored IBR OFC
Case Study Highlights
- 36% faster mid-span access for quicker customer connections
- Up to 43% lighter weight for easier handling and reduced shipping costs
- Received a Silver Award at the 2024 ISE Network Innovators' Awards
- Up to 21% reduction in diameter for installation in smaller ducts and congested manholes
- 288 fibers housed within 14mm diameter double the conventional capacity
- Achieved a 50% reduction in bend diameter, supporting the use of smaller, cheaper handholes
Overview
HFCL's 144-1728F Compact Armored Central Core Intermittently Bonded Ribbon (IBR) Outdoor Optical Fiber Cable family represents a significant advancement in optical fiber cable technology. The use of IBR supports efficient mass fusion splicing and easy routing in closures, significantly reducing termination time. This technology also allows for the production of high-fiber-count cables with reduced diameters, making them well-suited for ever-expanding modern network infrastructure needs. This innovative design family has been recognized with a Silver Award at the 2024 ISE Network Innovators' Awards, highlighting its impact and value in the industry
Applications of HFCL’s 144-1728F Compact Armored Central Core IBR Outdoor OFC
- Specifically designed for applications where durability and protection are crucial, especially direct buried and lashed aerial installations
- Engineered for diverse applications, including Data Center Interconnections, Metro Rings, Access Networks, and FTTx Networks
- Ideal for operators deploying fiber optic networks in urban and rural areas, effectively addressing space constraints and environmental challenges
Challenges Faced
Network operators and installers face multiple challenges with traditional armored optical fiber cables, including:
Large Cable Diameter
The primary challenge was to upgrade the existing Dca-rated cables to achieve the higher Cca-s1a,d0,a1 classification, ensuring enhanced fire resistance and smoke control.
Time-consuming Fiber Access
Removing the multiple protective layers in conventional cables is often time-consuming, resulting in longer installation times and higher labor costs.
Material and System Cost
The need for multiple protective layers in traditional designs increases material consumption and may require the use of larger, more expensive installation hardware
HFCL’s Approach to the Challenges
To overcome these challenges, HFCL has developed the 144-1728F Compact Armored Central Core IBR Outdoor OFC with the following innovations:
- Elimination of Inner Tube or Jacket
This cable family removes the need for an inner tube or jacket, reducing overall cable diameter and weight while maintaining required protection and durability
- Hybrid Protective Sheath
A combination of fiberglass rods and corrugated steel armouring provides the necessary toughness for these cables. This allows for smaller cable bend radii, facilitating easier installation in confined spaces. The use of fiberglass rods instead of steel wire enhances safety, eliminating the risk of cuts and punctures from handling cut ends of wire.
- IBR Ribbon Technology
This technology allows for increased fiber packing density and reduced cable size while still supporting efficient mass fusion splicing
- Streamlined Installation Process
By providing direct access to the ribbons once the outer jacket and armoring are removed, the cable design reduces preparation time for splicing, leading to faster deployment.
Success Metrics
The effectiveness of HFCL's innovative cable design is evident in several key metrics:
Simplifies installation by providing immediate ribbon access once the outer jacket and armoring are removed. Achieves 11% time savings on end-entry access and 36% on mid-span accessing compared to dual-jacketed designs.
The cable family’s innovative design and performance were recognized with a Silver Award at the 2024 ISE Network Innovators' Awards, underscoring its impact and value in the telecommunications industry.
The cable family’s reduced size and high flexibility facilitate easier handling during deployment, whether coiling in Figure 8 or storing slack loops in underground enclosures or on poles. The 288-fiber version fits into a 50% smaller footprint than comparable dual-jacketed designs.
Our cable family meets the GR-20 and ANSI/ICEA S-87-640-2016 standards, ensuring consistent quality and reliability across our offerings. This compliance reflects our commitment to industry-leading performance and customer satisfaction.
As noted by an ISE judge, “An intelligent redesign of traditional armored cable, this design is innovative. It appears to save some time with workability per the time study findings, which always brings benefit to the business. Most notably is its reduced bend radius requirements and environmental footprint from a manufacturing material perspective.”
Cost Reduction
- Lower Material Consumption
The elimination of the inner tube or jacket results in up to 43% reduction in cable weight and up to 21% reduction in diameter, directly translating to reduced material consumption. This reduction is also a significant step towards reducing the carbon footprint, aligning with sustainable manufacturing practices
- Reduced System Cost
The cable family’s reduced size and improved flexibility allow for the use of smaller vaults and pedestals in underground deployments, thanks to its reduced coil diameters. For example, the 288-fiber design achieves a 23% reduction in coil diameter compared to dual-jacketed armored designs and a 38% reduction relative to central tube designs with flat ribbon, enabling more efficient use of space and lower hardware cost.
- Reduced Transportation Cost
The smaller diameter of our cables allows for more cable length per drum, increasing the length of cable that can be shipped in one container or truckload. This efficiency not only lowers transportation cost but also contributes to a smaller carbon footprint by optimizing logistics and reducing the number of shipments required.
Revenue Generation
The efficient cable design supports quicker network rollouts, enabling clients to capitalize on new market opportunities and meet the rising demand for high-speed connectivity.
The cost-effectiveness and speed of deployment free up resources, allowing clients to focus on introducing new services and innovations, thereby generating additional revenue streams.
The increased fiber density and reduced footprint of these cables allow the installation of extra fiber in the same space, ensuring that networks are equipped to handle future expansion and technological advancements
Our latest cable technology is safeguarded by pending Intellectual Property (IP) rights, ensuring market exclusivity. This protection secures our competitive edge and guarantees a reliable, high-performance product for our customers.
Conclusion
HFCL’s 144-1728F Compact Armored Central Core IBR Outdoor OFC family is more than just a set of cables—they are strategic assets designed to meet the challenges of modern telecommunications networks. With its innovative design, efficiency gains, and cost-effectiveness, this product family sets a new standard in optical fiber cable technology, providing long-term value and competitive advantage to network operators, internet service providers, data centers, and telecommunications companies.
