Connectivity is key, but what is an effective and efficient way
of providing fibre, and what differentiates Huawei Technologies solutions from solutions
used by others when it comes to fibre deployment to customers’ premises? Theo
Hess of Huawei Technologies, Huawei Accounts Division, explains why Huawei’s
solution and methodology is making a difference, leading the way in “fibre to
the home”. According to Hess, by now, the benefits of using fibre optic cables
instead of copper is common knowledge. Fibre optic cables transmit data using light
to carry data from one point to another compared to electrical pulses used in copper
cables. Since 2016 Hess has been involved with engineering and building
networks for Huawei Technologies, and he says thousands of homes have been
passed, across Gauteng (Johannesburg), North Eastern (Pretoria), Eastern
(Durban), and Western (Cape Town) regions and in the process of being connected
to Huawei’s QuickODN Fibre network using the OEM (original equipment
manufacturer) supplied parts. Before one can understand what exactly QuickODN
is, one needs to understand that there are different ways to provide fibre
connections to homes and businesses, which is something that Hess refers to as
FTTH (Fibre to the Home). The most common way is the traditional conventional
way, which is more expensive, consumes more time and requires skilled workers
to install these fibre connections. This is the fibre technology solution,
until recently and before Quick ODN, being deployed in the Overberg area. The
new Huawei Quick ODN Fibre method is literally a plug[1]and-play
solution that requires zero splicing, while traditional fibre optics require up
to nine splices per home at a time. This consumes much more time.
What makes QuickODN unique?
“The new pre connectorised solution provided by Huawei Technologies
facilitates faster installation times with more emphasis on cost efficiency and
maintaining high quality standards. While Huawei is fully capable of deploying
both solutions, it has responded to its customers’ requirements by providing
the Huawei QuickODN solution,” says Hess. This innovative new technology solution
requires no splicing, cable routing or sealing. The deployment methodology improves
Time To Market (TTM) by 30% and reduce maintenance cost by 90% by a simple
replacement method. Some steps in the process, especially where splicing is
required, now only takes 15 minutes compared to the traditional installation,
which takes up to 90 minutes. The solution is currently being deployed in Cape
Town areas as well as the greater Hermanus, Caledon and Kleinmond.