South Front Networks Fiber Entrance
Bringing your own fiber into SFN facilities
One of the first tasks in lighting up a new point of presence is getting a connection back into your network. For local facilities-based Carriers, the optimal solution is almost always bringing in your own cable.
OSP Entrance at SFN Carrier Motels
Each of the sites has between 2 and 6 entrance vaults. The vaults are placed at the corners of the property just outside the edge of the Right-of-Way (RoW). SFN run 4” PVC from each of these vaults back to a 4” duct system running under each of the buildings.
When entering, we recommend the carrier install a 2” (or larger) HDPE from the entrance vault back to the nearest Carrier vault. SFN will then install a 16/13mm microduct from the carriers vault back to either the Meet-Me-Bay or the carriers rack.
The microducts are 16/13mm and can accommodate up to 432 strands of fiber per microduct. The service coil is left in the carriers vault. The slack is pulled back out to the carriers vault. This allows for maximum fiber protection when in the shared duct as well as minimizing the amount of OSP cable inside the building.
For half and full rack customers, two 16/13mm microduct entrances are included in the standard lease. Any installed cables MUST be non-conductive. SFN will provide locating on the property out to the entrance vault via installed tracer wires.
Inside the building, SFN has a snap in system for the 16mm microducts allowing organized and secure cable routing to any location inside the building without regard to whether the cable is landing in the shared Meet-Me-Bay or the Carriers leased space.
Option #1- Meet-Me-Bay
At each SFN location, a Clearfield HD frame is dedicated for connections coming into the building from outside. This is always located in the first (building 100) hut at the site.
We require the use of 24 fiber LC/APC duplex cassettes exclusively in the MMB. The APC connectors are optimized to reduce reflections that can adversely affect amplified optical systems.
Although a MSA is required, there is no monthly recurring cost to bring fiber into the MMB. There is only a setup charge for cost recovery of the materials and labor. The carrier is free to purchase outbound cross connects or receive inbound cross connects at the same terms as the other tenants located in the building.
If the Carrier also has leased space in the building, a standard NRC will be charged to jumper to “carrier-owned” equipment but no MRC. If the cross connect is going to a different carrier a standard cross connect fee will be applied.
Option #2- Carrier Leased Space
As an alternative to landing in the Meet-Me-Bay, a carrier may elect to run their new entrance cable directly to the carriers leased space inside the building.
The microduct routing from outside works roughly the same other than inside the building the microduct will stub out in the carriers leased space.
The Carrier is then responsible to splice and terminate the microfiber pulled through the provided microduct. The Carrier is also responsible to provide any required patch/splice hardware required for proper termination.
As is the standard custom, the Carrier is responsible for any patching inside the leased space. Since the Carrier is responsible for installing the patches inside the rack, the technicians can move cables at will.