The diagram I placed is for full HFC rather than fibre.

On a FTTH (as Virgin Media call it) to HFC the 96mm pipe could be substitated for multi-duct or micro-duct bundles, however this would still need to be at a minimum of 250mm (260mm Scotland).

Edited by gary333 (Fri 24-May-19 16:37:12)

In reply to a post by partial:

Virgin's shoddy build of shallow trenched, unprotected, directly buried fibre tubes has an immediate impact when they are cut by unsuspecting streetworks contractors.

But perhaps in the longer term minor, unreported damage by contractors to the shallow unprotected tubes will hit as the tubes become water filled.

Water wouldn�t cause a problem if it�s FTTP though.

I�m not sure I see the problem anyway really. If the ducts are damaged, causing s blockage when Virgin try and push something through it then they�d just do a dog to locate the blockage. Or am I missing something?

I suppose they must do a downward dog.

In reply to a post by Icaras:

Water wouldn�t cause a problem if it�s FTTP though.

I�m not sure I see the problem anyway really. If the ducts are damaged, causing s blockage when Virgin try and push something through it then they�d just do a dog to locate the blockage. Or am I missing something?

Nah. The error was by the contractor who hit VM's plant. Had they done their job properly they'd have had the VM plant marked up and, if hitting it unavoidable, have informed VM and paid for VM to lower the plant to ensure safety and compliance.

There's nothing wrong with use of microduct - VM didn't randomly decide this was how they were going to deploy, the process was recommended and implemented with the assistance of Huawei and indeed is how networks are built now.

Water isn't a problem. The plant isn't copper and doesn't need pressurising to prevent water ingress. Things move on from the requirements BT set and had. BT themselves are playing with bundles of microducts.

BT only pressurised the E-side network anyway. But yes Openreach use micro ducts for FTTP. Along with a tonne of overhead when they could get away with it.

The Wallasey FTTP build in Wirral is very heavy on overhead, going forward though micro ducts will be more common as more overhead has proved controversial for Openreach. Remember when they had to rip all those new poles out of the road when they�d just gone in? That�s been replaced by micro ducts.

In reply to a post by Icaras:

BT only pressurised the E-side network anyway. But yes Openreach use micro ducts for FTTP. Along with a tonne of overhead when they could get away with it.

The Wallasey FTTP build in Wirral is very heavy on overhead, going forward though micro ducts will be more common as more overhead has proved controversial for Openreach. Remember when they had to rip all those new poles out of the road when they�d just gone in? That�s been replaced by micro ducts.

Curious: are BT using them in a similar manner to others so, in their case, connectorised fibre block then a microduct from block to each property with lateral cuts from a spine cut?

I'm wondering as the alternative suppliers are using cabinets where a bunch of subscribers terminate and a dedicated microduct from there to each property. Openreach are obviously using all underground so would have fewer subscribers to reach per block unless they build new chambers and use those in lieu of aggregation cabinets.

At some point I must have a look at one of the hybrid builds around here. There are a few areas where Openreach haven't been able to use new overhead plant so have instead build some underground.

Are they perhaps just using microduct to take fibre to poles for distribution or are they doing small access network overbuilds of microduct in lieu of overground plant entirely? How's that working if that is what they are doing as they'll have to stop at property boundaries and install a TOBY or obtain wayleave from everyone in the street to install the new plant.

Sorry for the mass of questions.

In reply to a post by gary333:

The diagram I placed is for full HFC rather than fibre.

On a FTTH (as Virgin Media call it) to HFC the 96mm pipe could be substitated for multi-duct or micro-duct bundles, however this would still need to be at a minimum of 250mm (260mm Scotland).

Yeah that document is usually found at this webpage: https://www.virginmedia.com/lightning/network-expans...

Current version as of 2019/5/25 is https://keepup.virginmedia.com/content/networkExpans...

Not sure. I only saw it in the internal magazine and it didn�t go into great detail.

It�s something for the future anyway. Most of the existing FTTP rollouts will be very heavy on the overhead as they are already planned and going ahead (even though a lot of the public are furious at the new overhead line plant), it�ll be future Fibre First builds where you start to see microducts. Especially in areas where armoured cables were used, or where the ducts were too small/old to take any more cabling. They are essentially building a new network there, on a local level anyway.

In reply to a post by Icaras:

They are essentially building a new network there, on a local level anyway.

New network = microducts - whomever is building them. Good to know, thanks.

I had problems with the internet due to these repairs.