U.K. Trial Delivers Fiber to the Home Using Water Pipes

By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor

A trial deploying fiber optic cables via drinking water mains was launched this week in pipes in England with potential to connect up to 8,500 homes and businesses, as well as 5G antennas, according to the U.K. Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.  Negating the need to dig up roads, the trial promises to accelerate the rollout of broadband as fiber-optic cables are deployed through 10.5 miles of live drinking water mains between Barnsley and Penistone in northern England.   “Civil works, in particular installing new ducts and poles, can make up as much as four fifths of the costs to industry of building new gigabit-capable broadband networks,” Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said in a press release. “The Fiber in Water scheme will demonstrate what could be a greener, quicker and more cost-effective way of connecting fiber optic cables to homes, businesses and mobile masts, without the disruption caused by digging up roads and land.” Continue Reading