Cable Industry Challenges
When I talk to network operators across North America, there are three key challenges that have emerged as a recurring theme: the need for fast, cost-effective deployment; a shortage of skilled labor to get the job done; and the challenge of getting more high-speed data lines into existing spaces.
Network Deployment Speed and Cost Solutions
Laying out vital infrastructure is no easy task, and you have to get it right. But anything that unnecessarily slows down deploying a network can ultimately mean higher costs. From civil permitting delays to the complexity of physically laying hundreds, if not thousands, of feet of cable, any slowdowns add up. Preconnectorized solutions like Corning’s TAP Modules and Field-Installable Pushlok® connector are speeding up deployment compared to legacy solutions, with less room for error. Testing has shown these types of installations to be five times faster than traditional installations and splicing in the field.
Passive fiber optic networks to the home typically have lower operating costs compared to hybrid fiber coax (HFC)-based networks with lower power consumption and reduced maintenance. HFC networks have served the industry well for decades but come with maintenance challenges and costly equipment upgrades to keep up with bandwidth needs. However, Corning’s hardened connectivity solutions protect against common environmental factors like extreme temperatures, moisture, humidity, and other harsh conditions. And these solutions have already enabled fiber connectivity to more than 100 million homes globally. Fiber’s fully passive nature also means networks are prepared for the future, requiring upgrades only at each end of the network and not in the middle.
Labor Constraints
Building out these networks requires a highly trained workforce, which is currently in short supply.
Network operators tell me they need to be able to work faster to be able to meet the increasing customer demand. That is why Corning has not only developed products to speed up deployment, but championed fiber optic workforce training. It equips technicians and network specialists with the skills crucial to design, engineer, install and manage a growing fiber broadband network. Corning experts are not only providing training to program enrollees but are educating other instructors through a “train the trainer” model, extending the program’s impact.
Another solution to the labor challenge is opening more doors and creating a collaborative ecosystem. Corning is proud to be a part of organizations like SCTE, the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers, which connects innovative broadband professionals to advance the industry. SCTE is dedicated to maintaining standards, driving forward workforce education, and promoting broadband deployment in the cable industry. The professional organization also brings industry experts together every year for North America’s largest broadband trade show, SCTE TechExpo.
Network Density
While bandwidth demand has grown, the space available for network infrastructure has not. And as developers are often choosing fiber for greenfield builds, deploying fiber in existing spaces poses its own challenge. Installers tell me they are always looking for ways to reduce installation complexity and supply a denser network of cables in existing structures and ducts. Physical space for upgrades is at a premium, which is especially problematic when there’s a need to expand the geographical footprint needed for generative AI. Artificial intelligence now demands more than what a single data center can provide, and that is driving demand and growth for fiber between interconnected data centers.
That is where Corning’s next-gen fiber-dense cable fits the bill. The cable, recently highlighted in a major announcement with Lumen, will offer significantly more capacity to major cloud data centers. In general, each strand of optical fiber is roughly the size of a single human hair and can transfer data up to 150 terabits of data per second. Upgrades in technology have created cables that are both more densely packed with fiber and smaller in diameter, making them easier to run through ducts. By leveraging Corning's optical fiber cable design innovations, operators can quickly install more capacity in the same duct space to accommodate increased connections and bandwidth demand.
The Future is Fiber
As we look to the future, the cable industry is anticipating an even larger surge in demand for AI. Cable companies with powered active devices near the edge of the network are poised to capitalize on AI inferencing — moving machine learning data between the cloud and the edge. As a leader in fiber optics and AI connectivity, Corning stands prepared to help cable customers take advantage of this emerging trend.
As the cable industry continues to adapt their networks to the growing broadband demands and reliability needs, fiber is the clear choice for future builds. Once you deploy it, you can trust that it has the potential to outpace consumer demand for decades to come. Corning looks forward to supporting our cable customers as they explore new ways to lower the barriers for deployment, and deploy fiber networks faster, cheaper, and better than ever.
