CONSTRUCTION OF A COLD-WEATHER ENVIRONMENTAL TEST FACILITY FOR OPTICAL FIBER, CABLE, AND COMPONENTS

摘要

Prompted by a series of failures in which fiber optic cables developed high transmission losses atlow temperatures during cold winter nights, we have designed and built an Environmental TestFacility in East Millinocket, ME. Here such failures can be measured in detail to analyze thefactors that contribute to these service outages and to evaluate remediation strategies developed toprevent them. The site includes provisions for testing: fiber optic splices, both mechanical andfusion; optical connectors; various optical components, both passive and active; a variety of fiberoptic cable hardware, including splice closures, pedestals, and cable slack storage techniques; andcable and component installation practices. This paper describes the various elements of the site indetail, with particular attention to the cables and components presently on test. Preliminary data arereported which have provided some insights into the loss-inducing mechanism. Finally, thecapacity of the site for future growth and testing is outlined.