Clearfield® Delivers 144-port Count Fiber Distribution Hub as Carriers Race to Expand FTTH Markets

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New cabinet targets needs of smaller serving areas for PON and cross-connect applications

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clearfield, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLFD), the specialist in fiber management for communication service providers, today introduced the FieldSmart® Fiber Distribution Hub (FDH) 144-port Cabinet, designed to help customers satisfy the demand for fiber-fed services covering the outside plant for all markets including PON and cross-connect applications. Carriers looking to serve targeted fiber serving areas of up to 144 ports can now maintain the scalability that Clearfield and the Clearview® Cassette provides. Economically extending FTTx deployments, the cabinet provides a complete interconnect environment from the feeder network through the passive optical splitter to the distribution network, enabling carriers to cost-effectively launch PON services into new markets.

Purpose Built To Enable Carriers to Scale PON Deployments

The FieldSmart FDH Cabinet provides network planners with the ability to incrementally expand PON deployments as they expand further into less densely populated areas. This smaller port cabinet allows the provider to utilize a cost effective, compact cabinet that, like all of Clearfield’s FieldSmart PON Cabinets, utilize the Clearview® Blue —the modular building block cassette. With the Clearview Blue Cassette, fiber is deployed in increments of 12, providing users the ability to scale from 12 ports to full capacity, aligning capital investment with network layout or subscriber revenue.

“Operators today are looking at an increasingly diverse set of target markets and need products that help them quickly and cost effectively deploy fiber throughout the outside plant,” said Johnny Hill, chief operating officer and co-founder, Clearfield. “At Clearfield, our mission is to provide a comprehensive solution set that enables customers to deliver fiber services over any network, to any customer, in almost any environment.”

According to Ovum, FTTx PON equipment is driving growth in the access equipment market, providing competitive bandwidth for residential customers along with support for business customers and MBH/MFH (mobile backhaul and mobile fronthaul) applications. “Carriers are looking to push fiber deeper, expanding into new markets while customers seek higher-bandwidth services and leverage advances in Smart Home technologies,” said Julie Kunstler, principal analyst, Network Infrastructure and Software, Ovum. “Delivering products that enable service providers to lower both the upfront costs and ongoing management and maintenance costs, provide competitive advantages, enabling carriers to more easily expand the range and reach of their FTTx deployments.”

The FieldSmart FDH 144-port Cabinet is the complete solution for managing up to 144 distribution fibers for an outside plant FTTx PON application. Extending Clearfield’s building block design concepts, the FieldSmart FDH 144-port Cabinet incorporates a new modular shell design in which the provider can repair or replace a damaged cabinet, without disrupting existing service. The cabinet includes a new pyramid shaped roof/solar shield providing additional protection for deployed fiber. Mounting options include pole or pad/vault mounted with either a 4” or 12” riser.

Available for shipping in March 2018, the FieldSmart Fiber Distribution Hub Cabinet is compliant with Telcordia GR-20, GR 487, GR-1221 and GR-1209 and was designed and tested to Telcordia GR-326. Details on the FieldSmart FDH Cabinet can be found in the associated data sheet, product video and at http://www.SeeClearfield.com.

About Clearfield, Inc.

Clearfield, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLFD) designs, manufactures and distributes fiber optic management, protection and delivery products for communications networks. Our “fiber to anywhere” platform serves the unique requirements of leading incumbent local exchange carriers (traditional carriers), competitive local exchange carriers (alternative carriers), and MSO/cable TV companies, while also catering to the broadband needs of the utility/municipality, enterprise, data center and military markets. Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, Clearfield deploys more than a million fiber ports each year. For more information, visit www.SeeClearfield.com.

Media & Analyst Contact:
Witz Communications for Clearfield, Inc.
Richard M. Williams, 919-435-9111
Rmwilliams@witzcommunications.com

Source: Clearfield, Inc.

Released March 7, 2018