While passive optical networks (PON) have been around for a while, they’re beginning to take off in new ways. Across the country, PON Fiber to the X location (FTTx) deployments are ballooning in frequency, and service providers are scrambling to make the most of the opportunity.
In all PON FTTx operations, speed is an important consideration, especially in competitive markets where rapid service rollouts can provide a strategic advantage. Efficient procurement and project management practices can help accelerate the deployment process without compromising the integrity of the network, but securing a smooth supply chain can be fraught with snags and pitfalls. This article dives into the essential components that drive fast deployments and explores the critical role that reliable vendors play in overcoming these obstacles. Read on to discover how to navigate these challenges and accelerate your path to a successful PON project.
The Need for Project Speed
For service providers managing a PON FTTx project, speed to market is a critical factor. Faster deployments establish companies as industry leaders, as the faster you can respond to both technological advancements and customer needs, the better your position in the market. Working fast also offers competitive advantages. Rapid deployment enables companies to quickly capture market share, attract new customers, and start generating revenue sooner. This can be especially important in areas with high demand or where competitors are also planning to roll out similar services.
However, the drive for speed presents several challenges. Faster deployments require more efficient coordination among multiple teams, more precise logistics, and more reliable supply chains, all of which can be difficult to manage under tight timelines. In this context, ensuring crews have the right amount of the right type of materials is crucial. This task, however, is easier said than done.
The Importance of Small Pieces
While the key elements of a deployment are top of mind—optical distribution frames (ODF), network interface devices (NID), and the cables themselves—there are a litany of other pieces that are just as crucial. While the role they serve may be small, connectors, adapters, and splitters are absolutely vital for any successful network project, and speed of deployment can’t be achieved without them. For PON FTTx deployments, some parts and pieces in particular are crucial to success:
Multi-Fiber Trunks
Essential pieces for high-density core cabling infrastructure
Cable Assemblies
Patches, jumpers, and pigtails are vital for every connected component
Breakout and Fanout Kits
Makes access and termination of every multi-fiber cable faster and easier
Since no fast FTTx project can progress without these pieces, the locating and stocking of appropriate parts should be simple, right? Not exactly. There are a lot of places where the process of supplying crews with these essential parts can fall apart.
Supply Chain Stress
When procuring supplies for your PON FTTX project, several distinct challenges present themselves. Many of these challenges revolve around the issue of compatibility. Cable assemblies and fanout kits can have slight variations, and ensuring all components of your project fit with each other can be a minefield. If not managed correctly, an order of mismatched components can cause installation delays, increased costs due to reordering, and even potential network failures if not identified early.
Sometimes, you may need custom parts with specific configurations tailored to your project, making the problem of incorrect or unusable components even more troublesome. This customization can complicate ordering and stocking, as it often involves precise measurements and assembly for parts that are not available off-the-shelf.
Making matters worse, the availability of certain components like multi-fiber trunks can be impacted by delivery disruptions, long lead times, or limited production runs. Predicting the exact quantities needed is difficult, especially for large or complex deployments, so last-minute re-orders and top-ups are common—but delays in receiving those parts is costly. Even though an item like a pigtail is small, a lack of them can mean missed deadlines, work stoppages, and cost overruns.
Vendor To The Rescue
As a salve to all of the issues and challenges, coordinating with a vendor who understands the specific technical requirements of FTTx deployments can greatly influence speed of delivery. Partnering with a supplier who can deliver the right components on time depends on several key factors. First, the supplier must have a large selection, able to cover an array of components that can match any desired configuration. Next, they should stock large amounts of components, enabling them to meet your needs regardless of quantity. Finally, they need to demonstrate fast turnaround times. For standard items, this could mean same day or next day shipments, and for custom pieces it could mean a few days or a couple of weeks, depending on quantity.
At OpticonX, we’re committed to providing short lead times for your FTTx network cable assemblies and other components, enabling your speed to market without fear of wrong or delayed orders. Want to speak to our FTTx experts supplying your project? Reach out here. Or, check out our array of PON-ready cable assemblies here.