Buried vs. aerial—fiber firms try to balance growth with resiliency

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US fiber companies are furiously expanding their network footprints to accommodate growing demand from consumers and businesses for high-speed broadband. According to the Fiber Broadband Association’s (FBA) 2022 Fiber Provider Survey, fiber was deployed to 7.9 million US homes in 2022, more than in any previous year. At the same time, the US experienced 18 separate weather and climate disasters in 2022, according to the NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, making it one of the most destructive and costly years in US history in terms of weather and climate-related disasters. For broadband network planners, it’s necessary to strike a balance between delivering fiber to areas that need connectivity and being cognizant of localities most in danger of climate disasters. For example, a fiber company may bury fiber instead of deploying aerial fiber in a hurricane-prone area or it might deploy aerial fiber instead of burying fiber in a low-lying area that is at risk for flooding. Fiber networks typically use gear that conforms to Network Equipment Building Systems (NEBS) standards, which means that they meet certain requirements and will tolerate earthquakes and extreme temperatures. In addition, many fiber component vendors offer ruggedized products that have extensive warranties guaranteeing that their equipment will last for decades.


Buried vs. aerial—fiber firms try to balance growth with resiliency