Clearfield, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLFD), a specialist in fiber management products for communication service providers, today announced the availability of its StreetSmart Collector Box.
Optimized for rapidly growing, high density multi-dwelling unit (MDU) and multi-tenant unit (MTU) environments, the manufacturer says the new mid-span platform alleviates one of the key congestion points in fiber delivery for network operators and building owners, paving the way for faster fiber delivery to support the variety of services and applications residential and retail customers require.
Clearfield says the StreetSmart Collector Box provides an interface between the PON wall box, typically located in the basement or off-site, to the wall box located on each floor, eliminating common congestion challenges in vertical pathway scenarios. The company says the enclosure significantly reduces installation and repair times by reducing the amount of cable that installers must manage, which helps accelerate deployment times and generate the greater revenue opportunity presented by fiber.
As noted by the manufacturer:
With 14,000 multifamily buildings completed in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the business case for the full-fiber MDU/MTU is gaining traction as both residents and businesses rely on fiber broadband to support bandwidth intensive applications. Clearfield’s StreetSmart Collector Box removes the need for individual cable routing from each floor to the PON box by gathering multiple floors into a single box.
From the Collector Box, a single fiber cable is routed down the vertical pathway instead of individual cables from each floor. A multi-fiber push-on connector (MPO) is then used to connect the Collector Box to the floor box for an easy, time-saving solution.
“The business case for full-fiber isn’t solely an amenity offered to tenants, but is now an avenue for building owners to offer high-value services such as video surveillance, and partner with service providers facing real estate challenges in placing radios and small cells to accelerate 5G availability,” observes Kevin Morgan, chief marketing officer at Clearfield.
Morgan adds, “By addressing one of the biggest hurdles of fiber deployment and management in MDUs/MTUs, we are preparing our customers to succeed in what is shaping up to be a booming fiber deployment opportunity for operators and building owners as they look to serve residential and retail customers and serve as a tower for fixed wireless and 5G services.”
ClearField notes the StreetSmart Collector Box is Telcordia GR-771 compliant, utilizes the standard 216 locking mechanism and supports up to eight MPO adapters. The product's swing out bulkhead separates the vertical cable from the horizontal runs which reduces accidental disruption of circuits. The box can be configured with a factory-installed cable assembly or plug-and-play with a customer provided assembly.
The product will be featured at Clearfield’s booth #609 at Fiber Connect this week, July 26-28, in Nashville, TN. More information can be found at www.SeeClearfield.com.