Air compressors for fibre optic cable blowing

The government recently announced plans to connect 85% of the country with ultrafast gigabit broadband by 2025. That means telecoms businesses will continue to be busy installing fibre up and down the country for years to come. Choosing the right air compressors to support fibre optic cable jetting will help projects run on time.

Compressed air is an essential tool for fibre cable installation teams who first have to establish duct integrity by pressurising it and monitoring air loss. The duct must also be free of obstructions before adding the cable.

With a suitable cable carrier or parachute attached, the fibre optic cable is fed through the cable blower and into the duct and lubricated. Compressed air is then injected into the duct behind the cable carrier. A hydraulic powered tractor drive may also be used to give additional drive and cable slack so the cable can easily travel through the ductwork.

Mobile air compressor choice

Versatile, reliable, and easy to transport air compressors are essential for trenchless laying of fibre optic cables. They also need to be powerful enough to transport the cable long distances through ducting that is not always straight.

A great air compressor for fibre cable blowing is the MOBILAIR M17 from HPC that requires minimal loading space on a van or trailer and delivers a maximum pressure of 15 bars. With heavyweight performance from the lightweight design, the mobile air compressor deliver 1.6 m³ of quality compressed air per minute at 7 bar, and 1.0 m³ at 15 bar.

Featuring high-quality Honda petrol engines, M17 compressors from HPC are ready to support the installation of fibre optic cables. They are completely fit-for-purpose with impact-resistant PE enclosures, a compact design, large pneumatic tyres and a low centre of gravity.  They also have a long, stowable tow bar making manoeuvrability simple.