Enlighten FAB3: Compact distribution node for easy installation on crowded poles
Our Enlighten TEN-FAB3 Aerial Distribution Enclosure has been designed for easy installation on crowded poles. It provides all the requirements needed to support customer drop installations, and is flexible enough to support optical splitting and splicing needs along with fibre and cable management. In addition, this excellent enclosure is easy to access and work on in all weather conditions.
Defining the target Use Case
In many FTTH networks the distribution point connecting the customer’s home to the network is often located on a pole. These aerial distribution enclosures typically serve 24-32 homes. However, there can be multiple operators providing services to the same areas, which means that several of these aerial distribution enclosures need to be mounted on the same distribution pole. This leads to congestion on poles and the space available to mount these nodes is at a premium.
To overcome the distribution pole space problem, and to make the customer drop cable installations easy and efficient, the aerial enclosure needs to be as small as practically possible. Whilst providing all the requirements needed to support customer drop installations, it needs to be flexible enough to support optical splitting and splicing needs along with fibre and cable management. And it must be easy to access and work on in all weathers whilst being rugged and weatherproof to withstand the operating environment.
Detailed solution requirements to achieve the Use Case
The solution should satisfy the need for a compact aerial distribution enclosure, serving up to 32 premises via aerial drop cables. It is important that this enclosure can support all of the use case and installation requirements along with the physical elements of the fibre network. This could be done by conforming to all latest fibre installation techniques and adhere to best practices & industry requirements for fibre management and splicing in pole mounted applications.
It is important that the enclosure has splicing trays to easily connect between the incoming distribution side cabling and the outgoing customer drop cabling. And it should have the provision for fitting various splitter types and quantities sufficient enough to support up to 32 customers depending on the splitting ratio required. It should also support the commonly used connector types if required in the network architecture.
The customer drop cables should be easy to install without impacting on the network side distribution cabling, and should ideally be physically separated with access restricted to those required for it. Customer drop cables should be securely held in place, and the enclosure should be easy to install on the distribution pole and support spare cable loop management as required.
The Enlighten TEN-FAB3 has been designed to meet these requirements in a compact, rugged and efficient enclosure product.
Presenting TEN-FAB3 features and USPs
The TEN-FAB3 has been developed with the following main features, demonstrating its capability and benefits for used as a compact aerial distribution enclosure.
- Very compact size, typically smaller footprint of around 25 – 30%
- Up to 32 (LC) customer connections (16 SC)
- 2 splice trays, each with 18 splice holders, which hold in open position
- Splitter positions in base under splice trays (4 x 1:2/4/8 + 2 x 1:16)
- Designed and tested to work with connectorized splitters lengths between 1-1.5 meters
- 2 rows of 8 adapter positions on tray that can be secured shut, preventing unwanted access to network splices & splitters
- Simple and efficient drop cable fixing positions for tie wraps
- Secure enclosure hinges and catch mechanisms
- Lid securely locked in place with security key
Summary
The FAB3 is a compact aerial distribution fibre enclosure suitable for up to 32 customers. It supports splice & splitting networks and customer drop cables are easy to install and connect within. Its small size makes it a better fit on poles, especially those that already have other enclosures mounted on them, and it is easy to install and use.
