Evaluation of Optical Cable Parameters during the Construction and Operation of Linear Communication Structures

Abstract

The paper analyzes the key technological aspects of manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of optical communication cables. The main sources of negative impact on optical fibers at different stages of the cable lifecycle—from production to operation — are identified. Methodology for evaluating cable parameters is proposed, enabling comprehensive quality control of fiber-optic communication lines. The approach is based on comparing optical and electrical parameters with passport data, construction documentation, and operational records obtained through control measurements of attenuation per kilometer and insulation resistance of the cable’s protective sheath using optical time-domain reflectometers (OTDR) and megohmmeters, respectively. The results are processed using mathematical statistics methods, including density distribution analysis, scatter plot construction, and calculation of mean values and standard deviations. This allows for identifying segments with the increased degradation risk, assessing parameter stability, and predicting the technical condition of the cable line. Graphical models of attenuation distribution at wavelengths of 1310 nm and 1550 nm are constructed, showing shifts and broadening of the distribution curves. Practical recommendations for monitoring cable parameters are formulated, which can be integrated into design and construction documentation for installation companies, service providers, and network operators. The proposed approach contributes to improving the reliability, durability, and efficiency of fiber-optic infrastructure and can be used to develop automated systems for monitoring the technical condition of communication networks using digital databases and predictive algorithms.