Clearfield, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLFD) has introduced its StreetSmart Small Count Fiber Hand-Off Box. With its modular product design, the company says the new demarc enclosure is especially designed to streamline an operators' ability to economically extend fiber networks further into the network, supporting the roll out of 5G, FTTP (fiber-to-the-premise), and wireless access services to more customers.
As noted by Clearfield, the universality of the StreetSmart Small Count Fiber Hand-Off Box's design means that any type of carrier can utilize one product across all of its small cell, DAS and MDU builds, as these type of networks increase to support cloud, IoT and other services across municipal, hospitality, transportation, manufacturing and other high-growth industries and applications.
“The market is continuing to see an uptick in the need for rapid fiber deployment to support 5G and other emerging technologies,” observes Stefan Pongratz, vice president and analyst, Dell’Oro Group. He adds, “Recent data from Dell’Oro Group states that CBRS RAN is projected to approach $1.5 billion to $2 billion by 2024. To increase wireless coverage and meet these industry forecasts, the utilization of mid-band small cells to extend fiber further into the network will be vital. Products that are craft-friendly and enable the rapid turnup of fiber services at a small cell site are key – especially in a 5G world.”
The StreetSmart Small Count Fiber Hand-Off Box is billed as an ideal fiber termination solution for operators that plan to deploy 5G or DAS, as it supports extending fiber fronthaul and backhaul capabilities throughout the footprint. The new product is also billed as cost-effective for carriers targeting smaller MDUs to support FTTP services. Up to 12 fibers can be terminated in one of four configurations in this craft friendly box, via an angled adapter feature that provides ease-of-connectivity, cleaning and testing.
The product's compact size means it can be concealed inside a mono pole in small cell and DAS networks. Another key value cited is the ability to land the carrier fiber on one side of the box and have craft technician separation from the contractor/installer on the other side. Designed with a hinged plate and 216 locking mechanism, access is secured between craft responsibilities. The craft-friendly GR-771 box can also be mounted aerially, on a pole or wall.
“5G requires fiber to radios that are further out in the network and the further you go into the network, the fewer number of fibers are needed,” said Kevin Morgan, Clearfield’s Chief Marketing Officer. “A traditional problem point for the carriers has been at the fiber hand-off point and until now, there has not been a small form-factor option for 5G or DAS networks for a protected hand off from wireline to wireless that didn’t require advanced training to deploy and support.”
Clearfield’s StreetSmart Small Count Fiber Hand-Off Box will be available for shipment in September 2020.