Cable Laying Services

Cable laying services install fiber optic cable or copper cable in buildings and office complexes, or over large distances. They are staffed by cable technicians who perform cable preparation, jointing, termination, testing, commissioning, maintenance, and troubleshooting tasks. Cable laying services differ in terms of capabilities. For example, power companies may offer cable laying services for low voltage (LV), medium voltage (MV), and/or high voltage (HV) lines. By contrast, telecommunications companies blow fiber optic cables into ducts and micro-ducts within buildings. Information technology (IT) services also install cables for data and voice communication networks. Some cable laying services can help select cables for an application. Specifications for coaxial cables and triaxial cables include impedance, attenuation, outer diameter, insulation, cable weight, and materials of construction. Specifications for fiber optic cables include cable type, wavelength, numerical aperture, maximum attenuation, and bending radius. Cable laying services use many different types of equipment. For example, cable laying services that specialize in underground service cable connections often use trenchers with rock wheels and backhoes. Trenchless equipment such horizontal directional drills (HDD) and vacuum excavators is also available. Cable drums are devices that are used to spool specific lengths of line from a supply roll or coil. Aluminum roller rails are also used for spooling. Ring spoolers have a length-counting mechanism that allows cable technicians to make direct measurements of cable lengths during pulling. Cable grips maintain uniform cable tension and prevent accidental damage installation. Marine cable laying services drag, tow, lay, bury and retrieve cables along the ocean floors. They use special cable-laying ships that are equipped with remote operated vehicles (ROV), unmanned subsea vessels that have a video camera and articulated arms. Marine cable laying services need to understand how ocean currents, bathymetry, cable properties and other environmental variables affect a cable’s shape over time. Cable burying machines are used along heavily-traveled routes where trawling nets or ship anchors can damage power or communication lines. Submersible robots are designed for applications in which cable laying and cable burying tasks cannot be performed simultaneously. Typically, submarine cables are dispensed from a cable tank with a cable feeder.