ETUG Committee: Standing Panel CS5 - Optical Fibres

CS5 is an ENA forum set-up for member companies interested in the installation and maintenance of optical fibre telecommunications networks on HV overhead power lines. The forum enables members to share knowledge, experience and develop standards to protect their optical fibre assets.

CS5 is an optional service with fee-paying members deciding on its direction and outputs. CS5 has agreed to continue to liase with ETUG whereby it will report on significant issues and consider any work that may be required.

Areas of work covered by CS5 include:

• Optical cable installation methods and procedures
• Monitor and report on installation methods, procedures and safety issues regarding the installation of
• Optical cable systems. Actively liaise with BSI and IEC on the conversion of Tele 2 - Installation of
• Optical Cabling in Hazardous Areas - to protect existing UK ESI standards and practices.
• To date IEC TC 78 has accepted this new work item.

Liaising with other groups

• Monitor and report on the development of associated standards work being done by IEC TC 11 WG09 - Overhead line fittings, IEEE 1222 -Test Schedules for ADSS and also monitor the work of CIGRE and CENELEC.

Trials and incident reports

• Monitor and report on the performance of any trials and incidents both within the UK and internationally. Recent examples of this work include the replacement of wrapped cable with OPGW, A new wrap replacement block trial in the UK, and long term maintenance issues associated with the UK’s mature optical fibre systems.

Technological development

• Monitor and report on new technological developments. Some recent examples include the use of wavelength filters, WDM and fibres designed for WDM, fibres which have dispersion compensation allowing longer distances between nodes at 10Gbits/s and above, undersea cables, use of high fibre count 288 per cable.

Maintenance problems on existing fibre installation

• Monitor and report on any recent faults and the techniques used to overcome them.

Maintenance problems on existing copper cable installation

• Monitor and report on any recent faults and the techniques used to overcome them. 

Strategy for replacement of time expired copper cable installations

• Monitor and report.

Evaluate and investigate new technology and solutions associated with fibre optic services

• Monitor and report

Other issues

• Report any major issues likely to affect member companies and consider any work that may be requested.
• Continue to provide support as may be required for work associated with converting Tele 2 to an IEC standard through TC78 Committees.
  

The Chairman of CS5 is Mr Andy Dickson of Scottish & Southern Energy. The membership is made up of experts from the Utility industry and representatives from outside manufacturers and contractors. The group normally meets twice a year and progress is reported to ETUG meetings on an as when required basis.