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A Solution To The Telecom "Last Mile" Problem?

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  • 08-02-2004 2:04pm
    #1
    TommyK
    Registered Users Posts: 199 ✭✭


    Hi Everybody,

    Hope this is the right Forum . . .

    I was just wondering about something relating to the “last mile problem” in telecommunications (where high speed fibre-optic networks are bottle-necked by the old copper cable connections that connect peoples homes to the local exchange, which would be very costly to upgrade).

    I’m definitely not a techie of any sorts so apologies if this seems like a stupid question:

    Why can’t fibre-optic cable be just strung from pole to pole as the current wiring is?

    Wouldn’t that make it easier and cheaper than underground connections?

    Is it to do with expansion and contraction in the weather? (Although fibre-optics do seem very flexible, don’t they?).

    Anyone know?

    Regards,
    Tommy.


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    #2
    Redshift
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,486 ✭✭✭Redshift


    Fibre optic cable is very very fragile more so than alot of people realise. Generally it has to be buried in special conduits. Secondly no matter what way you do it you need a huge amount of fibre which is not only expensive in it'self but also has to be installed by specialists. the cost would be enourmous.


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