Work With the Experts at UCI
Underground Contractors, Inc. are experts in splicing. For over 40 years, UCI has been trusted by the communication industry and companies alike looking for fiber optic services in Michigan. More recently, UCI has expanded our serviced locations to Greensboro, North Carolina as well. We are eager to offer aerial and underground services in North Carolina! So, let’s dive in – what is fiber optic splicing?
In optical fiber services, the core is the path used by light, while the cladding prevents it from escaping. Data is sent as bursts of light through small optical fibers. In this job, pure silica is typically used to create these fibers, which are about the same diameter as human hair.
Protective coating protects fiber optic cables from weather and other potential harm. With the use of optical transceivers, quality data is transmitted through a fiber optic network in the form of light. They function as lasers tuned to a given wavelength, and they take data signals sent from switches and transform them into light pulses. These light pulses travel through fiber optic cables of good quality.
Fiber optics can send more data at higher rates over greater distances than other methods used in such services. Because of this, it has become an industry standard for data transfer and is widely deployed across the telecommunications services, ISP, and enterprise sectors.
What Is Fiber Optic Splicing?
Fiber optic splicing is the process of connecting and testing two optical fiber lines. Under such services, the best quality fibers are joined through a process known as termination or connectorization. A company uses splicing services to repair fiber optic cables in infield installations when an accident has cut a buried cable, as it is a faster and more efficient completion technique.
An electrical arc is used to join the two fibers together. This type of joint between fibers is among the most robust services that give the lowest loss, has the least reflectivity, and is the most trustworthy for customers. Fusion splicing machines are frequently utilized when this approach is taken.
What Disrupts Fiber Optic?
Despite meticulous planning, quality training, and careful deployment by the best companies in the industry, no aerial fiber installation is fully immune to interruptions in this industry. Sometimes, underground fiber services continue to experience interruptions for reasons beyond your control.
Animals
Rodents of all shapes and sizes, from squirrels to rats and rabbits, will gnaw on almost everything, even the underground or aerial cables. Fiber optic services are a specific target for squirrels. Bears can also be a concern if the cables are thin enough to slip between their teeth.
Vehicles
Drivers of large trucks or machinery should be able to glance above and around them, but they often don’t consider the surroundings. This is one of the major causes of disruption of services.
Truck drivers crashing into utility poles and knocking down power lines is just one example of the everyday absurdity that can result in property damage, thereby risking everyone’s safety. This scenario is more common in any big city.
Water
In order to have more safety against moisture, modern aerial fibers typically have their coatings peeled off at the splice area before being fused together. Most modern-day fiber optics water damage occurs at splice enclosures where moisture was not adequately prevented from entering.
Lightning
When lightning strikes the earth, it will seek out even its finest conductor, which may also be underground. Damage to the aerial cable sheath and even the fiber itself is highly probable if that is your fiber cable’s armor.
Natural Disasters
Services must be secure and dependable enough to withstand common weather phenomena like ice, snow, and wind. Any effort to construct a network may be rendered useless if natural disasters or extreme weather conditions, such as hurricanes or lightning strikes.
It has a domino effect wherein the disruption of aerial cable services affects wired and wireless communications.
Requirements of Fiber Splicing Contractors Jobs
Academic Requirements
Any company in this industry typically expects a high school diploma or GED from aspiring candidates. Although prior experience is awesome, UCI does offer on-site training and certification for those who are eager to learn the trade.
Physical Requirements
Physical fitness is needed in fiber optic installation, testing, and repair jobs, as some companies require staff in this job to lift as much as 50 pounds.
Other Requirements
Workers in a team may need to learn how to use various construction tools and techniques with safety and gain experience working in tight quarters and on projects at heights. Common hand tools of premium quality, such as cable jacket strippers, crimpers, and testing gear, are required in the splicing and testing industry.
One of the many perks that UCI offers our customers is the luxury of being on-call 24/7 in case of an emergency or outage in the network.
Demands of the Job
Experience with Handling Cables
A project may require providing telecommunications services to various cities or replacing aging infrastructure in the city. Hence, you should be an expert at splicing and terminating fiber optic cables for clients. You should also be able to undertake maintenance and troubleshooting services to fix any issues underground or aerial with the signals for various customers, be it Detroit or any other city.
When installing poles or underground cables, crews will employ construction equipment to dig trenches, including plows, trenchers, borers, and winches. With UCI, you can receive training along with the chance to complete your certification courses in splicing and testing.
Wiring Knowledge
When repairing, the crew must check the wires and equipment for electrical problems. They may splice in a new line to replace the damaged cable after troubleshooting the old one to determine where the problem lies.
A person interested in this job should know how to decipher wiring schematics and construction drawings in the next project they work on. The city technician should be able to perform complicated tasks of different quality projects using complex machinery and tools such as fusion splicers (single and ribbon), optical time domain reflectometers, and an armored cable splitter.
Knowledge About Fiber Optic Transmission
It is also important to ensure familiarity with fiber optic transmission and the equipment used in such transmission when working with a telecommunication company for any project.
Underground Contractor’s Inc. Now Hiring
UCI is now hiring in Michigan and North Carolina. The top priority of the company when making a placement is to ensure compatibility between the employee and UCI.
Underground Contractor’s Inc. is a reputable underground and aerial construction company in this industry, with a culture inspired to teach its staff and promote career progression.
We welcome splicing labor technicians with experience working with fiber optic cable, splicing, terminating, testing, and documenting.
Underground Contractor’s Inc. is eager to offer a job to the appropriate applicant. Technicians must portray their hard work as an individual and amongst the team in order to find true success at UCI. You can get in touch with UCI if you’re looking for a job opportunity by applying on line through our short form or finding us on indeed.com
