'Anti-Theft' aerial TLC cable, using Copperlite™ CCA conductor as an alternative to copper: Telecom Italia's experience in its infrastructure network

摘要

The recent dramatic increase in copper prices requires innovative solutions for infrastructure products to be resistant to the "theft phenomenon". The interruption of telecommunication service due to a stolen cable generates drawbacks including high costs for end-users and loss of reliability for the telecom service providers. The use of Fushi Copperweld's Copperlite™ Copper-Clad Aluminum (CCA) as an alternative to copper conductors for twisted pair TLC cables provides an "anti-theft" solution that is equivalent in performance to copper, while at the same time decreasing the cable weight. Copperlite™ can be easily processed using conventional copper drawing equipment with a minor modification in the die sequence making it fit for use in cable design constructions. To assess the possibility of inserting the new cable in an existing link without service downgrading, trial volumes of the Copperlite™ cable were produced and installed in the field and suitable connectors were used for the transition joints with the copper pair cable.