Is this fibre?

[charlieharper]

Openserve currently rewiring the telephone poles in our neighbourhood with what we assume is Fibre.

Still no indication that Openserve FTTH is coming via any coverage maps, etc, etc. (Scottburgh, KZN).

Whilst walking my dog this afternoon, I noticed a cable hanging loosely from one pole with the end point open....



So just to confirm, this is fibre?

Note, another Fibre company, Linteg, is also trenching fiercely in our neighbourhood, wrote about it here https://www.ronaldlangeveld.com/how-i-got-fibre

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

Cant see clearly, but in my drunk state now that looks more like copper than fibre

 

[Geoff.D]

Yup.

There should be a label on the cable, look along the length.
Looks like 48 core, but not sure. The yellow kevlar is a giveaway.
Typically Openserve installs 12; 24 core on poles but in some places 48 core.
Definitely not a copper cable, no twisted pairs in sight.

Below sample 24 core and 48 core used in our area by Openserve on poles.

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

I see you are in KZN, @ToxicBunny and @RedViking might know more info

 

[charlieharper]

Yup.

There should be a label on the cable, look a long the length.

Will look again in more detail over the next few days.. just noticed "Openserve" on the cable itself.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I am not 100% sure, but it looks like it does include the copper cables at least, it has the standard Telkom copper cable colours.

 

[RedViking]

Fibre goes in the ground. Will they really hang it out in the open?


Maybe what you holding there is free electricity... connect a toaster and check.

 

[charlieharper]

Fibre goes in the ground. Will they really hang it out in the open?


Maybe what you holding there is free electricity... connect a toaster and check.

Aerial Fibre?

 

[RedViking]

Aerial Fibre?

Possible. Not such a good idea I would say.

 

[Geoff.D]

Possible. Not such a good idea I would say.

There are thousands of km of aerial fibre in the SA!

 

[upup]

I see Frogfoot are removing aerial fiber in Kimberley in certain areas. If no one shoots it with a pellet gun or shot gun, I give it 40 years. And also , if there is a bush under it, or long grass , and there is a veld fire, then fibre only sends out "0"s.

 

[Geoff.D]

I am not 100% sure, but it looks like it does include the copper cables at least, it has the standard Telkom copper cable colours.

Same colour code is used for fibre.

The minor colours: (6)
BL - blue
OR - orange
GN - green
BR - brown
SL - slate
WH - White

The major colours: (4)

Red
Black
Yellow
Violet

The extra two used in fibre cables:
Rose
Aqua

12 in all ( fibres are grouped in 6 and 12 bundles)

Although there are as usual variants in some countries

 

[ToxicBunny]

Same colour code is used for fibre.

Well TIL...

Interesting....

 

[Geoff.D]

I see Frogfoot are removing aerial fiber in Kimberley in certain areas. If no one shoots it with a pellet gun or shot gun, I give it 40 years. And also , if there is a bush under it, or long grass , and there is a veld fire, then fibre only sends out "0"s.

You will be surprised how well a fibre cable stands up to a fire. The cable might look a mess and certainly, it will be replaced but the cores are not easily damaged by a grass fire.

 

[charlieharper]

Yup.

There should be a label on the cable, look along the length.
Looks like 48 core, but not sure. The yellow kevlar is a giveaway.
Typically Openserve installs 12; 24 core on poles but in some places 48 core.
Definitely not a copper cable, no twisted pairs in sight.

Below sample 24 core and 48 core used in our area by Openserve on poles.

View attachment 919663

Cool, will take a walk again tomorrow, and have a closer look. Thanks!

 

[Polymathic]

Good to know that I wasn't being delusional thinking that cable on that single pole next to the Telkom Tower up the road from me was fibre.

 

[Geoff.D]

And here is what typical underground blown fibre looks like.
Note the colour code.
How many fibre cores would you guess this to be?

 

[Wasabee!]

And here is what typical underground blown fibre looks like.
Note the colour code.
How many fibre cores would you guess this to be?View attachment 919681

72?

I think OP was walking with a panga chopping cables looking for coppah baba.

 

[Geoff.D]

72?

I think OP was walking with a panga chopping cables looking for coppah baba.

Yes 6 tubes, each with 12 loose tube fibre cores colour coded

 

[supersunbird]

Fibre goes in the ground. Will they really hang it out in the open?


Maybe what you holding there is free electricity... connect a toaster and check.

Thank god for Aerial Fibre, quick to roll out, little wayleaves, little trenching. How many power outages and hit water pipes do you want by having 2 x trenching instead of 1 aerial and 1 trenching?