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Conference 7.286::fddi

Title:	FDDI - The Next Generation

Moderator:	NETCAD::STEFANI

Created:	Thu Apr 27 1989
Last Modified:	Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2259
Total number of notes:	8590

67.0. "Fiber to the desktop" by SLUGER::MEISNER () Sun May 20 1990 15:22

Does anyone have any information on whether or not customers should
    be installing fiber to the desktop today? 
    
    The issues that come into play include:
    
    	1) Expected advances in the industry in terminating fiber thus
    	   driving the labor costs down.
    
    	2) The possible use of cheaper plastic fiber rather than glass.
    
    	3) The possible use of other media (thinwire & twisted pair).
    
    	4) The issues with installing, and leaving unterminated, the
    	   fiber to the desk. 
    
    	5) One of the reasons Digital recommends a separate fiber
    	   faceplate is to keep the copper-based technicians away from 
    	   the fiber, if possible. AMP sells faceplates that support
    	   copper and fiber. Is there any reason why we couldn't use
    	   this faceplate?
    
    I would appreciate any market/industry information as well as the
    Digital party line.
    
    Bill Meisner
    NWSS - Boston

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
67.1	"Blown Fiber?"	USRCV1::ADAIRC	Claude Adair 252-7087 @RCO	`Fri May 25 1990 09:20`	12
	Bill, To address a subset of your concerns, I heard recently from a customer that AT&T proposed, or is proposing, the use of an installation technique they called "blown fiber." As I understand it, small, flexible, straw-like conduit/tubing is pulled to the faceplate so that fiber strands can be "blown" from the closet to the faceplate at a later date. Has anyone else heard or have experience with this technique? If it's viable, it seems like a fairly good idea to set customers up for fiber to the desktop when in the midst of a copper-based cabling project.
67.2	Me too	CSOA1::SEITZ	LOST-IN-SPACE	`Fri May 25 1990 10:08`	2
	I also heard about this last week. My customer will be evaluating this technique. I'll try and get a copy of their report when its completed.
67.3	blown fibre	HAMPS::WILKINS_N		`Tue May 29 1990 11:17`	15
	Blown Fibre is a technique that is patented by BT in the U.K, they are pushing it very hard, and in some MOD ITT are the only allowed solution. Essentialy you lay empty tubes to a building or perhaps a desk. The tubes are bound a 2, 4 or 7 tubes in a bunch. You can then blow fibre into each one of these tubes. Upto 7 fibres in each tube. The idea that you delay the cost of fibre installation, put what you want in when you want it and then add additional fibres later. There is one other company in the U.K that is allowed to install blown fibre, they also have a development licence. I am very suprised that AT&T are looking at installation BT own all the licences and are very strict on who they allow to install. Neil
67.4	Sumitomo too.	OSAV20::IZUTANI	Kenji Izutani,Tech.Consul.,CSEC,DEC-Japan	`Wed May 30 1990 21:14`	7
	In Japan, Sumitomo is strongly promoting "air blown" technique as well. I heard that Sumitomo bought this technology from BT. We usually have tough competition against S&I, which is a strategic alliance of IBM and Sumitomo in the FDDI market. If Digital can use the same technology, it would be helpful to win the business. Kenji Izutani/DEC-Japan,Customer Services
67.5	blown fibre services	HAMPS::WILKINS_N		`Thu May 31 1990 08:48`	7
	Blown Fibre is a technology we are actively investigating looking at adding to the portfolio of services for the U.K It is something that we are loosing business on because we cannot supply. If you would like further details mail me. Neil
67.6	Sub-topic: Plastic Fiber (70.0)	SLUGER::MEISNER		`Fri Jun 01 1990 09:07`	6
	Neil et al, I added note 70 to address the issue of plastic fiber as it applies to the issue of 'fiber to the desktop'. This entry became a great exchange of information about blown fiber which is very useful. Bill