What Does
Fiber In Sewer Mean?
Fiber in sewer refers to the installation of fiber optic cables through existing sewer pipelines. Usually trenching is used in the public right of way to deploy fiber underground, a technique that is disruptive and expensive.
The reasoning behind fiber in sewers is that the sewer network already exists and therefore, the additional cost of digging separate lines for fiber optic cables is eliminated. As with all methods, this also has its advantages and disadvantages.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Fiber In Sewer
The installation of fiber in sewer requires a small computer-driven robot called a sewer access module (SAM). SAM is equipped with CCTV cameras to install alloy rings inside the sewer pipes to support the fiber optic cable. Many such alloy conduits can be installed side by side in a sewer.
The sewer line is first inspected and necessary maintenance work is carried out. The next step involves installing clamps using the robot which travels through the sewer with the help of a laser guide.
Once the rings are installed, the robot crawls back out and is installed with another head that takes the conduit through the sewer and fastens the duct to the clamps. High-pressure air is used to blow the cable through the duct.
The fiber in the sewer system does not disrupt the normal functioning, pipeline integrity, or maintenance of the sewer system in any way.