About the project
FYCO's engineering team customized a preconnectorized solution to speed up fiber optic deployments, which was proposed to facilitate the construction and deployment of one of the largest operators in Venezuela, who had a great challenge for 2023 with projects in different regions of the country, including underserved areas. The customer was looking to implement a solution that would allow them to reduce their construction times and, at the same time, save operating costs, just two of the benefits of the PRECO solution, a proposal with cutting-edge technology to take on these new challenges.
This project transformed the client's traditional construction method towards a pre-connected and unbalanced technology, allowing faster and more efficient deployments. The solution was called "Lego-like" since the elements are interconnected without the need for much human intervention.
The challenge
- Adaptation and training
The PRECO solution required a more precise and detailed design. FYCO's engineering team had to ensure that the customer adopted the engineering and design of the unbalanced splitters in depth. Although it is not more complex, it requires taking care of the structure of different elements.
- Unforeseen events in the field
When the project arrived in the field, the client discovered that one of the planned poles no longer existed due to a traffic accident. This made it necessary to rethink the design and offer a new cable size to cover that specific area. For this purpose, the construction of field connectors was implemented, which allow making a cable of the required size. Likewise, for the second phase FYCO designed a box that allows to make derivations and also behaves as a pre-built cable extender.
- Custom engineering
The NAP box marks the point where the fiber optic splits to provide service to multiple users and, although unusual, the client requested to install the first NAP box on the same pole where the hub was located. To facilitate this configuration, FYCO's engineering team had to redesign this point and build a two-meter cable to meet this specific requirement.
"The PRECO Solution revolutionizes the way telecommunications networks are deployed. By implementing pre-connected technology, we are closing the digital divide more quickly and efficiently by speeding up end-user connection times."
FYCO Venezuela Team
The strategy
- Cutting-edge solution
This technology is a plug-and-play solution. The client was looking for a faster construction of its network and FYCO proactively recommended the PRECO solution, characterized by its precision, ease of installation and ability to reduce operating costs. It was agreed to carry out an initial test with 150 thousand homes passed (HP), that is, homes that can have fiber optic connection points.
- Equipment selection and customization
FYCO engineers, together with the client, defined the equipment to be used. Three lengths of drop cables, the appropriate types of unbalanced splitter according to the distances, the NAP boxes, the HUB box and the round cables were selected. In the meantime, the commercial area worked with the manufacturer to give personality to these components, using the colors that identify the client's brand so that they could be quickly distinguished at the points where they coincided with other operators.
- Pilot test
Before dispatching all the material, FYCO delivered a pilot test and accompanied the client's technical team in a process of familiarization with the products, ensuring a smooth and transparent execution in the field.
- Ongoing training
During the different phases of the project, including deployment, the client received advice, courses and training on pre-connectorized technology, covering the design and engineering stages, with the aim of avoiding setbacks and making the most of the technology.
"It is a solution that satisfies the market's urgency for a more agile and effective connection, responding to a global demand for digital inclusion. With PRECO, everyone wins: providers reduce their time and costs, and users connect more quickly to the technological world."
FYCO Venezuela Team
Figures
- 5 months of work for the design and homologation of the solution
- 6 weeks of training and education prior to deployment.
- 10 minutes to fix the NAP box and connect the cables.
- 3.4 times faster to build with the pre-connectorized solution.
- 3,290 km of optical fiber were deployed in the first agreement.
- 120,000 users connected with PRECO.
Results
- Optimization of time and resources
The PRECO solution allowed the client to reduce the required work force. Any member of the field team could install each NAP box in less than ten minutes. Traditionally, this task was performed only by a specialist known as a splicer, who would carefully select a fiber strand and do the assembly and could take at least 1 hour for this process.
- Simplicity and efficiency
With preconnectorization, the technician simply plugs in the NAP box as if he were plugging a cable into an outlet. This avoided possible errors that ultimately lead to network attenuation during construction. It is common that in traditional construction the fiber optic strands can be stressed or with a higher bending index than supported, causing loss of signal power.
- Cash flow
With the same work fronts, the PRECO solution allowed building the network 3.4 times faster, connecting more homes, advancing revenues and increasing profitability. Customer purchases went from 180,000 traditional HP per year, to 300,000 HP from PRECO in 2023 and 300,000 more in 2024. They estimate that by 2025 they could reach 600,000 HP purchases.