Learn About the 7 Stages of Building Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) Network

The construction of CVEC Fiber’s fiber optic network is a complex process that involves numerous contractors and a mix of overhead and underground construction to lay distribution lines. The time it takes is dependent on many variables, including the length of the circuit, terrain, soils, weather, and other external factors. The following steps below cover each stage of the overhead construction process.

Step 1: Make Ready Engineering

After creating a design of the fiber build, field engineers go to each pole to determine if any modifications are required in order to support the fiber. This phase can take two to four weeks.

Step 2: Make Ready Construction

Line crews will change poles, add new anchors to the poles, trim trees, and perform other work to allow the fiber to be placed later.  The make ready construction phase can take four to twelve weeks on each of the 64 feeders, as this step has the widest variance in time of all construction phases.

Step 3: Fiber Construction

Fiber crews pull fiber up on the pole and use a lashing machine to secure the fiber to the strand. In locations where the electric is underground, the fiber optic cable will be placed underground by either boring or plowing. Asphalt and concrete driveways will be bored under, and a pedestal may be placed next to a transformer or junction box to allow for a service drop. Fiber construction can take four to eight weeks on each feeder.

Step 4: Splicing

Once the strand and fiber are placed, splicers make splices at each end and tap point. They splice the necessary cables at each point and mount the splices in enclosures secured to the distribution poles or in pedestals. The splicing work can take another three to six weeks for the main lines.

Step 5: Service Drop Construction

The drop crews extend the fiber from the nearest splice point to the structure receiving service and leave coils of fiber in each location.

Step 6: Drop Splicing

The final outdoor step in fiber construction is the splicing of the drop. The splicer connects the last length of fiber at the tap point and mounts a network interface device (NID) at the structure with the final splice inside the NID. The service is now ready for a home or business installation!

Neil Wildman, CVEC Fiber Outside Plant Supervisor, stated, “CVEC Fiber has assembled a great team of employees and contractors to complete all phases of our fiber to the home build.  We all strive for quality in the construction process to provide for long lasting, superior internet service.” The process of building fiber to the home is no easy task, as all seven steps are necessary for every feeder we open for service.