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Modular fibre-optic patch panel

The latest from Webb Industries is Telegärtner’s Fibre Termination Box (FTB) – a modular fibre-optic patch panel system which facilitates customised cabling in locations where large numbers of apartments or buildings have fibre-optic outlets installed. Each apartment or building unit is connected to its own module. This allows extensions and modifications to be carried out to the up-and-running network without disturbing the links already in operation.

There are diverse applications where customised construction and extension of the fibre-optic network have a clear economic benefit over wide-area cabling for the user. For example, owners and tenants of apartments are not required to invest in fibre-optic cabling until they are really sure they want fibre-to-the-home (FTTH).

The robust metal housing of the FTB with just one height unit holds 10 slim space-saving modules, and the four height unit version holds sixty modules. The tool-free mountable plug-in modules are shipped with adaptors, a splice cassette, a splice holder for crimp and micro heatshrink splice protectors, as well as pre-installed pigtails that are ready to be spliced.

Each module slots into its own compartment in the housing, which means the fibre-optic links do not interfere with each other, even during extensive installation work. Dummy modules cover up unused compartments. The optional FTB divided storage panel safely takes up cable slack and can also be used for cable management.

Thanks to the modular packs of four fibres, the FTB is particularly suitable for FTTH cabling in apartment blocks where it is common practice to run micro cables with four single-mode fibres to each apartment. For this purpose, the shipped modules also contain, as a standard feature, the common LC/APC pigtails that are polished at an angle, as well as the appropriate adaptors. Other fibre types are available on request.

The FTB is not limited to FTTH applications. It can also benefit users and investors when cabling a company site, university campus, hotel complex or holiday resort that comprises many smaller buildings scattered over a large area. Telegärtner’s assortment includes a wide range of fibre-optic outlets for fibre terminations in apartments and building units. The pre-terminated fibre-optic cable variants allow the installer to pull the cable directly to the FTB and mount the outlet.

For more information contact Stephen Hands, Webb Industries, +27 11 719 0115, www.webb.co.za

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