July 15, 2005 Piscataway, NJ -- In its ongoing effort to provide the fiber-optic industry with generic requirements for network elements that are critical to the success of FTTP deployments, Telcordia recently introduced its GR-3120, Issue 1, Generic Requirements for Hardened Fiber Optic Connectors (HFOCs), which been accepted as an industry standard.
According to the company, GR-3120 includes all new requirements for connectors that are field-mateable and hardened for use in outside plant (OSP) environments. The company says such requirements are needed to support FTTP deployment and service offerings.
HFOCs are passive telecommunications components used in an OSP environment, and are critical to the implementation of FTTP. HFOCs provide drop connections to customers from fiber distribution networks, and may be provided in pedestal closures, aerial and buried closures, or equipment located at the customer premises, such as a fiber distribution hubs or optical network termination units. HFOCs are designed to withstand climatic conditions existing throughout the U.S., including rain, flooding, snow, sleet, high winds, as well as ice and sand storms. The connectors are designed to withstand ambient temperatures ranging from -40°C (-40°F) to +70°C (158°F).
Telcordia says its GRs provide technical requirements that suppliers can build to, and service providers can hold suppliers accountable to, unlike high-level recommendations developed by the traditional standards bodies.