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There are a number of reasons for explaining the failure of your cabling system, ranging from the conventional to the downright bizarre.
Last year saw internet giant Google report that its large portfolio of undersea cabling was under attack from an unlikely source; shark attacks.
According to Network World, Google product manager Dan Belcher told attendees at a marketing event in Boston that a kevlar-type protective coating was needed in order to stop sharks from taking bites out of them.
This practice has become commonplace for many undersea cable-layers, with reliability elevated to a status of paramount importance.
A report by the International Cable Protection Committee claims cable bites—by sharks and other fish—remain a surprisingly persistent problem.
The reason for this problem has led to plenty of head scratching among experts and cabling manufacturers alike, with some suggesting it may be due to sharks detecting electromagnetic fields given off by the cables.
Others claim it is down to sharks simply having a exploratory nibble, which in itself can prove disastrous for the functionality of a cable. Whatever the cause, protection is a must.
Alternative jackets protect from rodents
Although the shark example may be an extreme one, it is important to highlight that animal damage can have a catastrophic impact on the functionality of your network cabling system.
Rodents are arguably the main threat for even the most durable of cabling set ups.
Animals like squirrels often chew through cabling in order to wear down their teeth stop them growing too long.
The solution for many operators is an alternative jacket, which provides additional levels of protection.
The jacket is designed to reduce or eliminate rodent chews, containing a patented-jacket formula that uses non-toxic materials capsaicin and Bitrex.
Cables with alternative jackets are extremely repulsive to the rodents’ sense of taste and smell, meaning that when an animal bites into the cable, it finds the experience unpleasant and retreats before creating more damage.
This protection extends to a wide range of cables, including fibre optic, trunk and distribution, and drop coaxial cables.
Range of choices available
Comtec has a wide range of products that offer a solution to the problem of rodent damage, including the Ultima Armoured SWA OM3 Fibre Cable; a steel wire armoured cable that offers high levels of robustness that protects fibre cores in even the harshest of environments.
This product's flexibility makes it hugely popular as it enables easy laying without compromising on protection, even offering optimised crush resistance.
Other options include the AMP Netconnect Tight Buffered OM3 Fibre Cable, which is suited to both indoor and outdoor use. For the full range of products on offer, click here.
