Training can be the difference between a successful fiber installation and a disaster. This webinar will address how to set your company apart by becoming fully FOA certified; how simple instruction can make the installation and management of fiber optics second nature to your team; and the hidden, often overlooked values of training (photo courtesy of FOA).
Professionals in the ICT industry who are exclusively working from home may have “found time,” with which they can seek opportunities for professional development or training. One resource available to these professionals—as it has been for years—is Fiber U: the Fiber Optic Association’s free online self-study program. Fiber U includes self-study programs, tutorials, textbooks, videos, and links to other Fiber Optic Association (FOA) pages that educate on fiber optics and premises cabling.
In this issue of the FOA Newsletter, we had hoped to report about the giant OFC conference in San Diego last week and remind you of the CGA Damage Prevention conference next week in Palm Springs. While you are sequestered at home, we’ve provided some interesting things to read in this newsletter and many other places around the Internet in “Worth Reading” below. We’ve also got some good, free online training at Fiber U, including the new OSP Construction course or if you are preparing for an FOA certification course, any of the other Fiber U courses linked to FOA certifications.
What’s bend radius? Why does it matter when installing fiber optic cable? It can make the difference between a successful install and a disaster. A very costly disaster at that. The February issue of the FOA newsletter looks at installing fiber optic cable properly and understanding cable bend radius.
We’re only a few days into the New Year and all we can say is the outlook is uncertain. The enthusiastic hype that has filled the news in the past with promises of 5G solving the world’s problems has turned to skepticism. “Smart” cities are being discussed as not such a smart idea anymore. The latest battles in the “pole wars” we’ve written about before now focus on placement of small cells for 4G/5G, not on installing aerial fiber optic cables.
This week, I read an article stating that 5G “gives developers the ability to scale up projects more easily because there’s no need to build extensive fiber-optic networks to keep data flowing.” This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, fiber is the essential backbone for all 5G networks to operate, for fronthaul, midhaul, backhaul, and the densification needed to network between small cells.
The world communicates on fiber optics. Fiber has become the communications medium of choice for telephones, cell phones, CATV, LAN backbones, security cameras, industrial networks, just about everything. Hundreds of submarine cables connect the world for data, voice and video. This reference guide talks about why we use fiber and the types of networks where they are deployed.
Last month, I wrote about how a newcomer could get started in fiber optics and learn the basics. What if you are already experienced in fiber optics and want to keep up with new technology? I can empathize with you. I have been in this industry a long time and have seen many changes. I learn new things often. To continue writing about fiber optics and creating technical references for others, I have to work hard to keep up.
The August newsletter from the Fiber Optics Association is now available.
The FOA has published a Special “25th Anniversary Edition of Lennie Lightwave’s Guide.” Lennie Lightwave was the mascot of the original Fiber U Fiber Optic Training Conferences back in the 1990s. Lennie’s Guide was printed and over 60,000 copies distributed. Now we’ve reprinted it for everyone to enjoy – with current updates of course – and in color!
