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How much does weather affect cable/fiber-optic internet and TV?

Update:11-06-2020
Summary:

Fiber optic cable provides the most reliable data trans […]

Fiber optic cable provides the most reliable data transfer. An optical cable is resistible to a wide range of factors unlike a copper cable. Fiber optic cable is completely resistant to radio and electromagnetic radiation, mutual interference, and many other factors. Fiber optic cable can be laid near industrial equipment without any concerns. What’s more, fiber optic cable is not as sensitive to temperature as copper cable, and can easily be placed in water. So, fiber optic cable is not affected by sudden changes of weather conditions that could cause unpleasant consequences. The negative impact of ultraviolet, humidity and dampness, harsh climate - all this will not affect the operation of network and the state of the cable itself if you use fiber cable distribution box

 
 
 

If the cable is designed for outdoor installation (it has a cover made of polyethylene, it’s rigid and hard to touch, usually black or gray), you don’t have to worry. Also I recommend you to use fiber optical termination box. It provides reliable mechanical protection and long life period of usage of FTTX networks. All their accessories for fiber optic cable networks passed the operation experience test with temperatures ranging from -60°C up to +60°C against test, corrosion resistance test etc.

When the cable is designed for indoors installation, it has a PVC cover (it’s soft to touch, it can be of any color and has a specific smell). It does not burn, but under certain circumstances (low temperature) it becomes brittle and cracks. Then moisture gets inside the cable, due to which the fiber becomes cloudy, and the cable parameters deteriorate. If it is winter, ice inside the cable can cause single fiber breaks. And then you need to change the span of the cable. Do not forget that restoration of the fiber optic cable costs an arm and a leg due to the use of expensive equipment and materials. So, be careful while choosing a fiber optic cable.

Apart from the occasional trees, cars, trucks crashing into the fiber/cable poles during storms/snow- fiber optic cable isn’t really impacted by weather much.

Most ISP COs and cabinets are usually temperature controlled using HVAC/cooling systems so temperature variations isn’t a big deal either. That said there is the occasional HVAC failure causing overheating/freezing of non-weather hardened gear.

Copper on the other hand is a little more susceptible than fiber but still not too bad with temperature variations.

Overall, with an appropriately redundant network, weather should not impact customers.

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