Technology Options

Service providers are using OFC in the backbone and PIJF on the access front. But with people opting for wireless technologies on the access, OFC is still the preferred choice for the majority of new basic service providers in the country.

n Polyethylene Insulated Jelly-filled (PIJF) Cable: PIJF is an assembly of a number of pairs of copper wires. The gap between the pairs of wires is filled with petroleum jelly to reduce noise and transmission losses. Each line has two wires—one for incoming and the other for outgoing.

There are two types of PIJF cables in use—solid PIJF cable and foamed PIJF cable. In case of the solid PIJF cable, the conductor is insulated with solid polyethylene. This type of cable is presently used in the DoT network. In case of foamed PIJF cable, the conductor insulation is foamed to form a cellular cross-section, with a suitable foaming agent.

n Optical Fiber Cables (OFC): OFC offers almost unlimited bandwidth and unique advantages over all previously developed transmission media. OFCs are no longer dominant only in the transport network or feeder line but have penetrated to a large extent in the subscriber loop as well. With fiber, one can transmit narrowband, wideband and broadband communication services to the end-subscriber through POTS, ISDN phone, video phone, and video-conferencing. Most of the private service providers are focussing more to provide fiber to the building.