FiberStore news, the Chinese traditional fiber optic connector manufacturers not fared well in 2013, according to statistics, in the first quarter shipments of fiber optic connectors for FTTH “cold junction” decreased nearly 80% compared to 2012, which is regarded as technical magic for rapid deployment of FTTH by operators, gradually fell out of favor.
In the FTTH project, inevitably need to connect 5-7 fiber breakpoint. Before the advent of FTTH, fiber is mainly used for the backbone network, the breakpoints are using fusion splicer to connect, but because of its fusion splicer bulky, expensive, difficult to master the technology, these characteristics make it does not apply to FTTH project fast, low cost, convenience requirements.
Therefore, a few years ago, the industry developed fast connector, simple, convenient and low cost of FTTH splice junction, called the cold welding technology. United States, Japan, South Korea, which are the earliest development scale of FFTH, all have used the cold welding technology, verify the maturity of this technology.
“Hot melt” Return
In 2011, China Telecom launched the “city network” strategy, start the FTTH large-scale construction of China, and follow the international operators used cold welding technology. For a time, Chinese fast connector market raised quickly.
In the second half of 2011, cold welding technology began a large-scale unsuitable. The cold welding industrial chain which lacked details exposed its shortcomings: Although the same shape, but the heart technology of slot technology and matching fluid were unable to mark the international technology, below standard connectors entered into the network, caused massive FTTH quality problems.
In 2012, the three big operators reflected on this, Wei Leping, China Telecom Science and Technology Committee, noted: “FTTH network with serious quality problems, the network Splice, splitters and other products need to strengthen quality inspection.” But the problem was not changed with the operator’s attention. At present, in addition to Shanghai and Jiangsu, FTTH from other provinces still have serious quality problems.
However, it also provides an opportunity for some vendors. Fusion Splicers with “Miniaturization, long battery life, low cost, easy to operate” characters became hot topics in research and development.