EuroWire March 2023

Technical Article

Best practice for cleaning with a click-to-clean tool recommends applying a small amount of cleaning fluid to a wipe first, then touching the tool to the dampened area. Then insert the tool into the port and push the handle until it is fully engaged. It is important not to spray the cleaning fluid directly onto the end face or onto the tool itself, to prevent over-application of fluid. There are new tools in the marketplace that can clean and dry in just a 3.5-second cycle, so it is important to keep up to date with the latest innovations and adapt accordingly to ensure 5G network connectivity is always running at peak performance. A new touch-less end-face cleaner is making its way to market specifically designed for FTTH, FTTA and data centre applications. It delivers a micro-dose of atomised, high-purity cleaning fluid within a narrow column of pressurised air onto a fibre optic connector end face. The contamination is carried away from the end face with the cleaning fluid during the drying process, providing best-in-class, full end-face cleaning. Some fibre technicians may only clean when there is a problem, since they think it is too time-consuming to clean – especially when they have 6,912-fibre-count cables or larger to address. Cleaning should be performed during every installation and not reserved as a post-installation troubleshooting process when networks are not running correctly. If connectivity is compromised after install, the damage has already been done, requiring costly call back and repair. With the new and improved cleaning tools available today, it only takes seconds to clean and inspect a fibre end face. When compared to troubleshooting, repairing and cleaning faulty splices and connectors, the time spent cleaning fibre end faces during install far outweighs the hours spent on disruptive and expensive service call backs. Myth 4 You don’t need to be trained to clean Employing skilled personnel for fibre optic splicing, cleaning and installation can be challenging. Most field technicians today have more experience with copper cable than fibre optics, particularly in rural locations where fibre optic networks are less utilised. Subsequently, this results in workers maintaining and installing fibre without the correct skills and knowledge. Knowing how to clean and inspect correctly is critical to network performance. This requires training and an understanding of industry benchmarks. One standard that should be followed by all technicians when inspecting and cleaning fibre optic connectors is the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61300-3-35. This fibre end-face specification guides the industry in identifying specific cleanliness criteria. It is important that technicians understand this standard and use it as a reference tool to ensure all end-face cleaning is done correctly. Without this knowledge and training, network connectivity can be at risk. Myth 3 Only clean if there is a problem

Knowing how to clean and inspect fibre connections correctly is critical to network performance

5G connectivity stability Contamination is one of the main reasons for optical fibre network problems. When every milliwatt of power and gigabit of data is critical for seamless 5G connectivity, there is no room for uncertainty regarding cleanliness. Deciphering fact from fiction is essential in 5G fibre installation and maintenance in order to deliver connections that have faster speeds and greater bandwidth. By using proper cleaning procedures and industry-specific tools and standards, fibre technicians can clean fibre connections effectively, increasing reliability and ensuring networks run efficiently.

References

[1] https://www.ccsinsight.com/company-news/3240-ccs-insight- predicts-1-billion-users-of-5g-by-2023-with-more-than-half-in-china [2] https://www.prolabs.com/news/blog/are-5g-mobile-networks-really fibre-networks-in-disguise

MicroCare UK Ltd Tel: +44 113 360 9019 Email: mcceurope@microcare.com Website: www.microcare.com

67

www.read-eurowire.com

March 2023