New fiber-optic cable deployment technology heads to auction

ICAP Patent Brokerage has announced for auction two Australian patents and two pending applications for deployment techniques of fiber-optic communications cables using existing waste water pipe infrastructure. This lot from i3 Group Limited will be included in the 17th ICAP Ocean Tomo IP Auction on November 29, 2012 at The Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco, California.

"This innovative fiber-optic cable installation technology will result in a huge cost savings compared with traditional methods of installation," claims Dean Becker, CEO of ICAP Patent Brokerage. "These cost savings translate to a significant increase and more immediate return on the initial investment to our global base of buyers."

According to a press release, the IP [intellectual property] portfolio up for bid includes techniques for using waste water pipe infrastructure for the deployment of fiber-optic broadband communications cables. These techniques may provide significant cost, time, and disruption savings compared to the traditional civil trenching method.

For example, cables can be installed in one to two days rather than four to six weeks using traditional digging methods. Importantly, from the perspective of the infrastructure developer, the minimized time to market for cable installation and the reduction in capital costs can significantly improve the return-on-investment while eliminating barriers such as road and business disruptions. The combined reductions in the cost of fiber-optic cable deployment are estimated to be as high as 70%.

The specific installation methods and techniques discussed permit deployment while maintaining normal hydraulic flow of the waste water through the sewers. Further, an adhesive sealing of deformable material is used at the entry or exit point of manholes to avoid unpleasant and dangerous fumes. These techniques eliminate the need to use circuitous cable routes and avoid blockages in the sewer as the cables are laid in the direction of water flow.

The installation aspects of these patents are viewed as the key to low-cost and rapid infrastructure roll-out, which could facilitate development of high-speed networks and expanded bandwidth required by governments, businesses, and individuals. View a technical description for this Intellectual Property auction item.

To learn more, contact John Pryor of ICAP Patent Brokerage at +44(0)7587855131 or via email at [email protected].