Some Questions about Large Scale ( long distance ) Fibre Optic Cable Layers / Installers

[MidnightWizard]

Seeing as there is the soon to be big MYBB 2019 Fibre Conference
and
The sad fact that I will be unable to attend

Some questions that hopefully someone at the appropriate corporate level can answer

First Question :
Who are the main players in this segment ?
DFA / Openserve / Vodacom / Link-Africa ... ( the others ? )

Second Question:
Most of these long run fibre lays / trenching take place along national roads
Do the fibre layers / trenchers need to obtain "right-of-way" ?
What is the advantage of using national roads ( apart from the obvious ) ?

Third Question:
Is anyone laying fibre along railway lines ( trenching or Aerial )
Who gives this right of way ?
What are the advantages of using roads as against rail ? ( most rural / non-mainline lines are defunct never used )

Fourth Question:
Right of way
Recent high court cases have opened the way for fibre installers / cable layers to install anywhere in municipal areas
Does this apply elsewhere ( road and rail ? )

Fifth Question:
Why do trenchers / fibre layers use gangs of manual labourers when there are several highly efficient machines that can do this work ?
( Possibly quicker and at a lower cost )

All the questions ... I would like to know what it would take to -- "light" up the Karoo
( I have a suspicion the big wind farms have connectivity -- BUT -- this would be company specific / restricted )

I know the late and great MickeyD would have had a quick answer for me -- unfortunately there currently appears to be no-one to pick up and run with the torch he left behind -- all the help and assistance that he provided !

Thanks

 

[Zurg]

That last part made me kind of sad, I remember him, never got to chat in person but a subscriber of his input in the forums.

 

[ThatOtherDude]

I don't do long haul myself (FTTH/FTTB only) but I work with people who do/have.


First Question :
Who are the main players in this segment ?

Nowadays, whoever get's there first / has the capital / has the connections.
Vodacom & DFA (for me)

Second Question:
Most of these long run fibre lays / trenching take place along national roads
Do the fibre layers / trenchers need to obtain "right-of-way" ?

Yes. you're not allowed to trench or aerial anything - along/under/over a road that someone else built - without their permission. (Sanral, Transnet, municipal , etc)


Third Question:
Is anyone laying fibre along railway lines ( trenching or Aerial )

yes, I know of aerial that's being installed along railway maintenance roads. (each railway has one)

Fourth Question:


Not sure.



Fifth Question:
Why do trenchers / fibre layers use gangs of manual labourers when there are several highly efficient machines that can do this work ?


the decision (between traditional trenching or mechanical) is usually decided by 3 factors.

soil conditions
trench depth
project schedule

(and to some extent, politics.....
Sometimes it's just in everyone's best interest to rather employ 1000 manual labourers and NOT worry about the odd rock throwing incident or the odd man hole that gets filled with concrete overnight).

 

[Düber]

Fifth Question:
Why do trenchers / fibre layers use gangs of manual labourers when there are several highly efficient machines that can do this work ?
( Possibly quicker and at a lower cost )

Can't help with the others, but in an urban environment there is less collateral damage to existing infrastructure using people opposed to using a ditchwitch or similar.( and as pointed out it is good for PR)

 

[MidnightWizard]

Thanks for the replies

My Third Question
I would think that aerial spanning is cheaper than trenching ?
However trenching is more secure , more optimal , less "maintenance" ?

My Fourth question
As far as the permissions for "right-of-way" are concerned
Does this access have to be paid for ? ( SANRAL / PRASSA / Other state organisations )
Obviously there are benefits to using these already existing infrastructure avenues
However
What is to stop one getting permission from the relevant PRIVATE land holders -- on the OTHER side of the fence ?

My Fifth Question
Understood as far as built-up areas are concerned
I am however looking specifically at -- long haul ( no people , no urban infrastructure )
Good luck in finding stone throwers or anyone prepared to pour concrete in a manhole in the middle of the Karoo.