Openreach taps STL to supply fiber-optic cable for Full Fibre FTTH network roll-out
STL (NSE: STLTECH) reveals that it will supply millions of kilometers of fiber-optic cable to Openreach, the independent access network subsidiary of BT, for the company’s Full Fibre broadband network deployment over the next three years. Openreach has shifted into high gear for the Full Fibre project after a recent favorable ruling from UK telecom authority Ofcom on pricing (see “UK FTTH broadband network operators hail new Ofcom regulatory scheme”).
India-based STL will deliver elements of its Opticonn line of fiber, cable, and interconnect products, which the company asserts enables up to 30% more rapid installation. Openreach also will be able to use STL's Celesta high-count fiber cable with a capacity of up to 6912 fibers. STL says the Celesta cable is 26% slimmer than traditional loose tube cables and enables 2000 m of cable to be installed in less than an hour. Use of the cable also will reduce the amount of plastic in the network, STL says.
"Our Full Fibre network build is going faster than ever,” commented Kevin Murphy, managing director for Fibre and Network Delivery at Openreach. “We need partners like STL on board to not only help sustain that momentum, but also to provide the skills and innovation to help us go even further. We know the network we're building can deliver a host of social and economic benefits – from boosting UK productivity to enabling more home working and fewer commuting trips – but we're also trying to make this one of the greenest network builds in the world. So, it's good to know that STL's compact and efficient designs will contribute to this in a significant way."
"We are extremely excited to join hands with Openreach as a key optical solutions partner to build Full Fibre broadband networks for millions in the UK,” added Ankit Agarwal, CEO Connectivity Solutions Business, STL. “Our customized, 5G-ready optical solutions are ideally suited for Openreach's future-proof network requirements and we believe they will enable next-gen digital experiences for homes and businesses across UK. This partnership will be a major step towards our mission of transforming billions of lives through digital networks."
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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