Focusing on immediate, direct costs related to a fiber deployment – such as products, training and labor – is natural. To keep your network running for 20 years or more, though, prioritizing a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) is also important. You might save some money on your initial investment by buying a lower cost, non-tested product…but replacing inferior equipment may require extensive labor costs that could result in lost customers.
Clearfield® makes robust fiber optic management products, including splitters, cabinets and panels. They’re used all the way from the steamy tropics of Trinidad to the frozen tundra of Antarctica. We like to say that no one makes more reliable products than Clearfield. We even use the term “ruggedized” to describe many of our outside plant (OSP) products.
Saying that a company’s products are reliable and sturdy is easy. Anyone can slap a sticker on a product and call it bullet-proof. Taking the time and effort to prove that our products stand up to any environment shows another level of commitment and belief.
Clearfield’s done this for years. Major carriers require extensive testing before placing any equipment in their network. The UL, NEMA and Telcordia (NIS-Ericsson) organizations create rigorous standards that must be met before they will certify fiber optic products. These tests include impact, temperature and even firearms resistance. Why do we test fiber products so harshly? Because we listen to what our customer requires – and when testing is the ask, we do it thoroughly. We know that the product will perform as the customer expects when the temperature dips or the item becomes wet in the OSP environment.
When selecting products that will be operational in your network for decades, it makes sense to purchase a solution that has been fully tested and certified to the extreme conditions called out in the Telcordia (NIS-Ericsson) standards.
Our products are high-quality and built to last. But don’t take our word for it. Ask us for third-party test results.
Don’t trust your network to a generic solution. The TCO just isn’t worth it.
By Tom Warren
For about 20 years, Tom Warren has worked with Clearfield in the engineering world of telecommunications. As a Clearfield Sales Engineer, Tom provides support to carrier customers and OEMs. Tom’s expertise includes in-depth knowledge of WDMs, FTTx, Small Cell and DAS Fiber applications.