SmartDrawXS further enhances cable laying expertise by avoiding the need to splice optical fibers when branching to a customer’s home
Amsterdam, February 18, 2010 -- Draka Communications, a global leader in the cabling and optical fiber industry, today announces that with its new SmartDrawXS technique and tool, the company continues to extend and enhance its solutions for next generation broadband deployment. The simplicity of SmartDrawXS reduces the need for skilled labour when branching fiber to the customer premises and can result in FTTH branching savings of between 15 to 30% . SmartDraw.XS will be demonstrated by Draka at The FTTH Conference 2010, 24-25 February in Lisbon.
“ For Draka, SmartDrawXS is another small step in providing a universal framework for next generation network deployment, as well as a significant leap in contributing to reducing splicing, time and costs during this critical phase to the customer home,” says Edgar Aker, Marketing Director, Draka Communications Telecommunications solutions. The Draka technique is suitable for P2P, PON, and AON Networks with any number of customer premises or network layouts.
SmartDrawXS a technique that uses a dedicated tool, jointly developed between Draka and Swiss manufacturer Plumettaz, who are marketing the tool independently as the Plumett DomoJet. The technique, applicable to both outdoor and indoor plant situations, uses special retractable cables filled with loose colour coded fiber modules designed with low friction properties. The solution makes use of window-cuts (photo) at multiple points along the cable length, allowing individual fiber modules to be cut and pulled back to an earlier window. These retractable modules using BendBright bend-insensitive fiber technology, are then pushed or blown through separate microducts to reach a termination or distribution point within the customer premises.
The SmartDrawXS tool retracts the chosen coloured fiber module from within the retractable cable, keeping the retracted length in its storage container. The operator can then easily push and/or blow the selected fiber into a branch duct to the customer premises. The device requires less skilled labour and removes human error as well as avoiding damage to the fibers, while minimizing man-hours for installation. In addition, it significantly increases fiber pulling and pushing distances. Useable in constrained spaces (for indoor or outdoor use), the SmartDrawXS neatly stores the retracted fibers, creating a clean, tidy work area.
About DrakaXS.net
Introduced in 2007, Draka XS.Net, the outcome of Draka’s 20 years of expertise in cable and network building projects around the world, provides a complete passive network building resource comprising state-of-the-art miniaturised fibre optic components with network project design, planning, implementation and maintenance. Draka XS.Net is based upon a proven econometric model which results in lower costs and control over capital and operating expenses for building passive FTTH access networks..
The company’s software management suite comprises integrated software tools to cover network design, project management, identification and registration and installation planning. The result of a substantial investment over a period of 20 years, these tools are the result of Draka’s extensive turnkey project experience of building traditional telecom networks in Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Indonesia, Turkey and other dense urban conglomerations around the world. Typically, the software allows handling and management of all of the functional tasks necessary to control any major FTTH project.
About Draka
Draka (Euronext Amsterdam: DRAK), headquartered in Amsterdam, has over 9000 employees in countries worldwide and revenues of € 2.7 billion. Draka has a presence in 32 countries in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia.
Draka’s activities are divided into three groups: Energy & Infrastructure, Industry & Speciality and Communications. Draka Communications with its two business units, Telecom Solutions and Multimedia Specials, is a global market leader in the development, production and sales of fibers, cables and advanced network solutions. More information at www.draka.com/communications
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Photo: Draka’s FTTH branching solution makes use of window-cuts at multiple points along the cable length, allowing individual fiber modules to be cut and pulled back to an earlier window.The SmartDrawXS tool (photo) retracts the chosen coloured fiber module within the main cable and keeps the retracted length in a storage container.
For more information contact:
Terry Davidson, The Communications Group, Tel: +32 2 640 92 07 or terry@eurocom.be
Edgar Aker, Draka Communications, Tel: +31 20 56 89 462 or edgar.aker@draka.com
Albert Grooten, Draka Communications, Tel: + 31 18 25 92 443 or albert.grooten@draka.com