JDSU encouraging broadband deployment care

As much as 70% of the problems associated with deploying fiber to the home result from something as simple as dirty connectors – a reality that is prompting one network technology vendor to encourage the companies building out broadband networks using federal stimulus money to slow down long enough to learn from past experience.

JDSU (NASDAQ: JDSU) this week launched "Broadband@Work Across America,” a campaign intended to raise awareness of technical challenges service providers face when building broadband networks, whether they be fiber-to-the-home networks or more advanced copper transmission technologies.

“The central theme here is that there is a wealth of global experience, especially when you talk about Tier 1 and Tier 2 players that have deployed fiber-to-the-home,” said Jon Beckman, director of strategy for test instruments. “When the preponderance of problems – as high as 70% - is associated with dirty connectors in the fiber, then someone as simple as inspecting the connector when it is being deployed can eliminate that problem. That has a real impact when you talk about the high cost of sending a technician out to troubleshoot and fix a problem, in terms of time, cost and efficiency.”

The first broadband stimulus grants are due to be announced Sept. 30, and will come with built-in deadlines for construction milestones and completion, Beckman pointed out. JDSU’s campaign is intended to encourage award recipients not to be in such a hurry to deploy what best practices and prior lessons are ignored. JDSU provides both optical products that are deployed in these networks and test and measurement systems to diagnose and pinpoint problems.

“There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this,” Beckman said. “This campaign is mostly about awareness and education.”

Even where companies build on the existing copper infrastructure, instead of building FTTH, there will be technical issues, Beckman said.

“We see it in FTTN and DSL-based networks – minor faults that were acceptable in best-effort Internet service or lower speeds come back to pose problems when you are trying to put more customers into a cable or binder group or up the speeds to support TV or faster Internet access,” Beckman said. “Simple things like simply inspecting the fiber connection with a microscope or doing thorough inspection of copper plant make a big difference in the long run. There are wideband noise issues, bonding and grounding, common metallic faults. We are just sharing some lessons learned there.”