Blown Cable Installation Test Facility

The UK underground duct network uses the industry standard blown network cable installation technique. This technique installs a cable into a pre-installed subduct which in turn is installed in the main duct network. This cable installation uses compressed air and mechanical equipment to pull the cable off the cable drum and insert it into the pressurised subduct network as shown below.

Fibre Optical Installation & Equipment Ipswich

OPT has replicated the Openreach underground fibre optical cable test route to allow potential suppliers of cable, subduct, and installation equipment to gain confidence in their product prior to formal submission to Openreach or other CP's and their contractors. 

This pre-installed subduct route (installed by OPT staff) is typically installed in 1.5km or 2km's in length. But this can be configured to suit the customers’ specification if a shorter of longer route is required. Routes can be as tortuous as needed with multiple 90-degree bends. An underground blown fibre route is also available, again a close replica of the one used by Openreach which again can be set to customer requirements.

Cable and fibre successfully tested in this way is then considered suitable for any underground duct network within the UK. 

The location provided by OPT has the following benefits:

• Secure entrance for vehicular access.
• Off road parking and welfare facilities adjacent to the underground route.
• Existing secure building for storing equipment and item(s) awaiting testing.     

Operation of the Test Site

All required subduct, cable or equipment required can be supplied by OPT. The facility is operated by fully trained OPT engineers, who will be available to operate the test route using the same techniques used at the Openreach test route. Our engineers will be able to offer technical advice for any blowing or equipment queries. This means you simply cannot find a better-quality facility for testing or demonstrating Cables, Duct and cable blowing equipment within the UK. 

Data of the blowing operation is recorded at 50/100m intervals. This data enables an installation profile and full data capture is produced which becomes the sole property of the customer’s product or equipment under test. At the conclusion of the assessment the cable is recovered in a controlled manner back onto a cable drum. If required the cable, subduct or equipment can then be returned to the customer or can be disposed of by OPT if required.

Again, our engineers will be on hand to offer on the day advice for any questions or queries regarding results or any other options for products that have been used or could be used in the future.

If the facility for assessing fibre cable, subduct or installation equipment interests you, then please contact OPT using the contact details bellow. We operate around Ipswich and Suffolk, so get in touch to see how we can help you today.