Prysmian Group to deploy Sirocco Extreme micro-cables for sustainable networks and product circularity

Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, delivered the first project of its new Sirocco Extreme optical fibre cable for micro-ducts to the public utility supplier Stadtwerke Landau a.d. Isar. This world-first installation of a 180µm optical fibre cable will allow a large number of households and companies in Landau to benefit from a high-performance FTTx and 5G network. Sirocco Extreme is the first commercially available 180µm optical fibre cable on the market. The new product range boasts the smallest diameter currently available as well as the highest fibre density for micro-cables. Compared with conventional solutions, Sirocco Extreme enables faster, more cost-effective and eco-friendlier installations. Prysmian’s 180µm optical fibre is fully compatible for splicing with any standard fibre. The cables were installed by NETTec GmbH.

“Home office, online schooling and increased levels of video streaming during the Covid-19 pandemic have led to a significant rise in internet data traffic. Increased digitalization means data volumes will continue to rise even after the pandemic. High-performance, reliable fibre networks will be able to reduce the risk of data bottlenecks in the future” says Toni Bosch, VP Telecom Solutions at Prysmian Group. “The breaking point for many cities and communities when expanding their networks is cost. Existing ducting often doesn’t have much space left for more fibre, and extensive civil works mean an increase in costs and disruptions. To solve this problem, we offer the extremely compact and bendable Sirocco Extreme product range.”

Sirocco Extreme combines BendBrightXS bend insensitive fibre technology with Pico-tube technology. The Sirocco Extreme micro-cable used in Landau an der Isar has 288 fibres within an outer diameter of 6.5 millimeters. The density of 8.7 fibres per square millimeter means the cable can be installed in an 8-millimeter ID micro-duct.

“Conventional optical fibre cables often no longer fit into the tightly packed ducting. This means new ducting needs to be laid, which is costly and time-consuming,” says Bosch. “Thanks to Prysmian’s BendBrightXS 180µm fibre and Pico-Tube technology, Sirocco Extreme is up to 40 percent smaller than the previous Sirocco micro-cable. The space-saving design allows for efficient integration of the fibre cable into existing infrastructures. Plus, blowing in the cable is easy and fast, at a speed of 130 m/min.” It enables project managers to significantly reduce the overall cost of network expansion. Avoiding extensive groundwork also consumes less raw material, making it eco-friendlier.

Sirocco Extreme cables are available in fibre counts of 96 to 522 fibres, and with an external diameter of 4.5 to 7.5 millimeters. The products comply with international standards for optical and mechanical performance. The flexible BendBrightXS technology also provides manufacturers with the ability to design cabling solutions that were not previously possible, but nevertheless demanded by the rapidly changing circumstances.