Tips for Choosing the Right Fiber Optic Cable Company

With businesses increasingly adopting fiber-optic connectivity, choosing a reliable fiber optic cable company becomes pivotal. A professional company handles everything from designing, supplying, installing, splicing, terminating, and maintaining a high-performance fiber optic network customized for your needs. Partnering with the right company ensures you get a robust, scalable network optimized for long-term growth. Here are some tips for selecting the ideal fiber-optic cable company:

• Check Experience and expertise.

An experienced company with proven expertise makes all the difference in fiber optic installations. Seek out a vendor that has successfully completed fiber deployments of similar scale earlier. They should have seasoned engineers and technicians specially trained in handling enterprise-grade fiber networks. Experienced companies follow best practices and can recommend optimal fiber infrastructure for your specific requirements.

• Evaluate their fiber products.

The quality of fiber cables and components directly impacts network performance and longevity. Scrutinize the brands and types of fiber optic cables, connectors, splicing equipment, etc. that the company supplies and installs. Opt for a vendor that utilizes top fiber optic product manufacturers like Corning, OFS, etc. Also, ensure they recommend the right cable type—single-mode or multi-mode—based on distance and bandwidth needs

• Assess their design capabilities.

Proper planning and design are crucial for fiber deployments. The company must study your premises layout, density needs, and growth requirements to come up with a customized design. Check examples of their network diagrams, BOMs, schematics, etc. to assess their design skills. A flawed design can compromise network scalability.

• Review installation methods.

The approach to fiber cable installation also matters greatly. From properly pulling cables to splicing accuracy, the company’s installation practices should adhere to industry standards. Poor techniques can severely damage fiber cables. Ensure they have trained splicers and quality testing methods post-installation to deliver flawless fiber connectivity.

• Analyze Support Infrastructure

Beyond fiber network installation, examine the company’s in-house infrastructure for providing support services. Having local technicians, field equipment, network monitoring systems, and warehouses adds agility to maintenance and expansion. Effective issue tracking and ticketing systems also enable better support.

• Verify certifications and compliances.

Choose a fiber optic cable company that holds key industry certifications for standards compliance and safety. Make sure the company is fully licensed with up-to-date insurance policies. Certifications like BICSI, OSHA, TIA, etc. validate their expertise in fiber optic network design, installation, and maintenance.

• Evaluate network scalability.

Always opt for a vendor focused on scalable infrastructure to support future growth. They should study your bandwidth projections and equip the network adequately to increase speeds when needed. The right design leaves spare fiber capacity and utilizes modular components for easy upgrades.

• Review the current clientele.

Take a look at the company’s current clientele to assess if they have experience with similar industries and building types. Relevant experience deploying fiber for clients like your organization instills more confidence. Direct client testimonials and references also help evaluate their reputation.

• Consider local presence and support.

A fiber optic cable company with a substantial presence and resources locally is always preferable. Nearby warehousing and expert technicians can respond faster in cases of network issues and new deployments. Proximity also allows better coordination during installation and post-implementation support.

• Check service level agreements.

Well-defined SLAs guaranteeing uptime, responsiveness, and performance should be provided. Opt for proactive monitoring and managed services beyond basic break-fix maintenance and emergency repairs. This enhances optimization and keeps outages in control. Response time, availability, ticketing process, etc. must be analyzed.

• Evaluate project coordination skills.

Seamlessly coordinating fiber deployment across various teams requires expertise. Examine how well they plan work timelines, worksite safety, progress updates, and documentation. Strong project management ensures the entire process, from permitting to installation to testing, is streamlined.

• Analyze pricing and financing options.

Do a thorough cost analysis of fiber procurement, installation charges, customization needs, maintenance costs, etc. Some vendors offer attractive financing options to implement fiber networks in phases. But avoid companies offering unrealistically low prices that indicate substandard work quality.

• Verify sustainability practices.

Implementing fiber networks has an environmental impact. So partner with companies making efforts like proper disposal of old cables, minimizing installation waste, using eco-friendly components, etc. to reduce their carbon footprint. This also promotes your own sustainability goals.

• Check company stability and reputation.

Lastly, partner only with an established company with solid financial backing and a good market reputation. New vendors may quote attractively but may lack resources for long-term network maintenance. Check for recognitions, awards, customer reviews, etc. that reinforce the company’s reputation.

• Look for technical expertise.

The fiber optic cable company should have in-house engineering expertise in network protocols, electronics, optics, etc. This technical knowledge is required for activities like troubleshooting complex issues, performance optimization, capacity planning, etc.

• Consider end-to-end capabilities.

Some companies provide only installation services, while others offer complete end-to-end capabilities. Evaluate if the company can supply network equipment, provide technical support, and manage IT infrastructure along with installation.

• Analyze testing and documentation.

Meticulous testing, verification, and documentation of the implemented fiber infrastructure is vital. Ensure the company follows standard procedures for OTDR testing, loss measurement, paperwork, etc. Proper documentation aids future maintenance.

• Discuss security and compliance needs.

If your organization has specific security standards, compliance needs, or restricted access requirements, discuss them upfront. The company should be able to support the necessary measures during and after installation to meet your organization’s regulations.

• Review Cable Management Expertise

Proper cable running, labeling, racking, bending radius maintenance, etc. need expertise. Well-dressed cabling looks neat and makes tracing, isolation, and upgrades easier. Verify the company’s skill in structured cable management for fiber installations.

Conclusion

Choosing the right fiber optic companies requires careful analysis of their experience, expertise, capabilities, and service quality. Do not just be swayed by the lowest quote. A reliable company dedicated to building strategic, scalable, and robust fiber networks leads you on the right road to fiber connectivity and business growth. Utilize these tips to pick the ideal partner for all your fiber optic network needs, from planning to installation to support. Investing in a customized enterprise-grade fiber infrastructure with the best fiber optic vendor sets your organization up for long-term success.