The operator of backbone fiber-optic lines, one of the top-3 in the Russian Federation, increased the cable capacity to 576 fibers on the basis of Moskabel-Fujikura optical cable as part of a comprehensive modernization of the core of its own optical network. Cable of such capacity is now used by the company on the ring main line and forms its core. Thanks to this modification it was possible to halve the time required to provide optical fibers to customers.

A key component of network modification is optimizing its topology: instead of multiple coupler sections connecting the points of presence, it is now a ring backbone with radial branches from which the cable is built up to the points of presence via one or two couplers. The upgrade has reduced the amount of work and the time required to organize communication services: customers will be able to access leased or purchased fiber in half the time on average.

"In order to meet the challenges of the largest companies in the market we have to take into account their constant growth, look two steps ahead and implement truly innovative projects. Already in 2011, we were using 144-capacity cable in our network - well ahead of market standards. When you upgrade your network to a new capacity level, it's important to be aware of the technological and production load, to build up your skills in advance, and sometimes to be the first to do so. Only a few people in the Russian market are ready to work with 576-fiber cable. Before the cable installation we systematically and in advance trained specialists to work with the new capacity standard. In order to guarantee their level, and to produce the cable, we worked in close cooperation with Moskabel-Fujikura, one of the leaders of the Russian cable market," said the Operator's Managing Director.

Technical details of the project

The operator is one of the first companies in the Russian market, using cable with 576 fiber capacity. New investments in backbone network meet the growing needs of Russian Internet industry, e-commerce, financial and other sectors of the economy.

Cable designed and manufactured specifically for the customer by "Moskabel-Fujikura" plant was used in the modernization of the network. The cable design takes into account the need for continuous pre-configuration of the network, as well as other requirements developed by the company over the years of operation of its own fiber-optic communication line (FOCL). To ensure even greater reliability in the core of the network, connection joints of new configuration are used: joints of MOG type (urban optical) have been replaced by MTOK (dead-end optical) joints.

In order to modify the network, the company has expanded its own human resources with highly qualified installers and operation engineers, increased its technical base and carried out the works without outsourcing.

"There was no such experience in the market in either production or installation. Given the level of the project, the head of Moskabel-Fujikura - Sergey Anatolievich Gladkikh participated directly in it, and we installed the first coupling on the new ring under the supervision of an expert in installation of optics with twenty years' experience", - said the Head of Operator's service.

Capacity race: global and Russian standards

With the introduction of 5G networks, 14 billion connected IoT-devices and the growth of digital media industry, the capacity and reliability of the fiber optic network becomes essential for active development of the markets and entire economies. Therefore, the capacity standard in the networks of the world's largest operators is higher: for example, it reaches 1,728 fibers in key sections of the US Verizon network and is at least 864 over the entire backbone.

"The advanced capacity standard of the world's largest operators in the technology markets of Japan and the USA is about 2 thousand fibers in the backbone network cable, which is several times higher than the capacity used in Russia. Fibre deployment conditions vary from country to country, as do local markets. Moreover, high-capacity cables are rarely used in urban networks due to restrictions and difficulties in their installation and operation. We hope that implementation of new high-capacity networks will help to progressively raise the standards in the Russian telecom industry as a whole," Sergey Gladkikh, General Director of Moskabel-Fujikura, added.

The Russian telecom market is narrowing the gap to the global market, while its growth potential is still very high. The operator acts as one of the trendsetters in this process, setting a new standard for backbone network capacity. The company's long-term strategy is to focus on quantitative and qualitative investments in its network, and the modernization of its own network is another step in this direction.

About the Company

Moskabel-Fujikura (MKF) Joint-Stock Company was established in 1999 by Moskabelmet joint-stock company and Fujikura Ltd. of Japan. For many years, MKF JSC has been a leader in the optical communication cable market in Russia and CIS countries. Production capacity of the plant is up to 35 thousand km of cable per year.