ClearField (NASDAQ:CLFD) has introduced Home Deployment Kits designed to streamline fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) installation. The kits, which include everything needed to connect a home to fiber, are intended to reduce install time by 30 minutes per install and also to enable consumer self-installs.
Clearfield's new Home Deployment Kits are designed to complete the fiber connection from outside the home to the point where the customer premises equipment (CPE) is located inside the home, regardless of home size, shape, and building material, by packaging all the necessary materials in one kit.
"At Clearfield our priority is to accelerate cost-effective fiber fed deployments. Our customers are eager for a product package that includes all the necessary materials to easily install fiber and feed it all the way to the customer equipment no matter the varying scenario," said Kevin Morgan, chief marketing officer, Clearfield. "With everything needed for a home installation all in one box, not only are truck rolls reduced, but service providers will have everything from fasteners to the correct length of patch cord right at their fingertips. We anticipate service providers will save time and money for any deployment model, suiting even the most challenging home installations."
The kits include four choices of outside plant test access point (TAP):
- CraftSmart TAP-Base - splice only, limited slack storage, NEMA 4
- CraftSmart TAP-Flex - plug-and-play, 25 feet of incoming slack storage, NEMA 3S
- YOURx TAP - plug-and-play, 50 feet incoming/100 feet outgoing slack storage, NEMA 4
- FieldSmart TAP - plug-and-play, 100 feet incoming/200 feet outgoing slack storage, NEMA 4
In addition, every Home Deployment Kit includes a CraftSmart Fiber Outlet for inside wiring, fiber patch cords and FieldShield drop fiber as needed. The components of the kits are optimized for Clearfield's FieldShield FLEXDrop pre-terminated entrance fiber, but can be used with other types as well. After installing the entrance fiber, the CraftSmart Fiber Outlet terminates the fiber inside the home.
Home Deployment Kits are expected to be available for shipment in May.