SM
Single-mode fiber: backbones and long-haul lines, links between sites and to the surface.
Corning, Prysmian
Fiber-optic networks
Design, installation, testing and maintenance of fiber-optic lines: backbones between sites, cable lines in shafts and workings, building networks.
- SM
- MM
- DWDM
Technologies
MM
Multimode fiber: short runs inside buildings, network nodes and server rooms.
CommScope, Panduit
DWDM
Wavelength multiplexing: several channels over one fiber — more capacity without laying new cable.
Huawei, Nokia
Scope of work
Design
Cable routes through shafts, workings and sites, attenuation calculation, choice of cable and hardware, patch panel layouts, detailed design documentation.
Installation
Cable laying and aerial installation, splice closures and optical patch panels, fusion splicing and termination, labeling.
Testing
OTDR testing, attenuation and losses at splices and connectors, fault location; test reports for every fiber.
Audit
Review of existing lines: condition of cable and closures, attenuation margin, compliance with documentation.
Maintenance
Scheduled inspections, emergency restoration, damage repair, cable and hardware stock.
Design considerations
Installation conditions
Shafts, workings, overhead racks, ground: cable type, armoring, mounting method.
Mechanical stress
Vibration, rock falls, vehicle traffic — cable protection and routes away from risk zones.
Loss budget
Line length, number of splices and connectors — with margin for repair splices.
Redundancy
Ring topologies and diverse routes: damage to one cable does not cut communication.
Spare fibers
Cable fiber count with headroom for network growth and new systems.
Labeling
Tags on cables and closures, patch panel and route diagrams — for maintenance and documentation.
Sites
Underground minesShafts, workings, network nodes on each level
Open pitsPit walls, overhead racks, transfer points, site buildings
Plants and industrial sitesWorkshops, process buildings, warehouses, office buildings
examples of work
- underground mine · 12 km of cable through the shaft and levels · SM · 16 fibers
- line between sites · 47 km · DWDM · 12 channels
- open pit · 52 km ring · 28 splice closures
- processing plant · 24 optical patch panels · MM
How the work is done
- step 1RequestSite, task, existing lines
- step 2Route surveySite visit, cable routes, input data
- step 3Design and estimateSolution, specification, timeline
- step 4Installation and testingCable laying, splicing, OTDR testing
- step 5Handover and maintenanceAs-built documentation, test reports