The difference between buried optical cable and overhead optical cable

　　There are significant differences between buried optical cables and overhead optical cables in several aspects. The following is a detailed explanation of the differences between the two:

　　Installation method

　　Buried optical cable: directly buried in the ground, its exterior is usually covered with a steel strip or steel wire armor layer to enhance the ability to resist external mechanical damage and soil corrosion. Installation requires digging trenches or punching holes for laying, which is a large amount of work, but does not affect ground activities after completion.

　　Overhead optical cable: hung on poles or cable towers, using accessories to maintain stability. Overhead optical cables hung on poles require that they can adapt to various natural environments. They can be fixed by cable towers or poles, and are easy to install and do not take up space.

　　II. Environmental adaptability

　　Buried fiber optic cable: Since it is buried underground, it needs to deal with problems such as moisture, extrusion and ground subsidence. Therefore, better insulation and sealing materials are required to protect the fiber optic cable from moisture and mechanical damage.

　　Overhead optical cable: susceptible to air, oxidation, ice, snow, wind and sand and other factors, the risk of aging is high. At the same time, it is also susceptible to external forces and the weakening of its own mechanical strength, so the failure rate of overhead optical cables is relatively high.

　　III. Cost input

　　Buried optical cable: Due to the need to excavate or punch holes, and the need to use high-quality materials and complex processes for protection, the cost is naturally high.

　　Overhead optical cable: Because of its convenient installation and the ability to use the original overhead open pole road, it saves construction costs and shortens the construction period, resulting in relatively low costs.

　　IV. Application scenarios

　　Buried optical cable: suitable for scenarios that require long-term stable operation and high requirements for optical cable protection, such as urban backbone networks, long-distance communication trunk lines, etc. At the same time, buried optical cables do not affect ground activities and meet the needs of urban construction.

　　Overhead cable: more suitable for complex terrain, difficult construction areas and emergency laying. In addition, overhead cable is also suitable for dedicated network cable lines or some local special areas.

　　V. Maintenance and replacement

　　Buried optical cable: Since it is buried underground, once a fault occurs, it is difficult to find and repair, requiring professional equipment and personnel to operate it.

　　Overhead optical cable: Since it is erected on poles or cable towers, it is easy to find and repair. In the event of a failure, it can be quickly located and repaired.

　　In summary, there are significant differences between buried optical cables and overhead optical cables in terms of installation methods, environmental adaptability, cost investment, application scenarios, and maintenance and replacement. When selecting the type of optical cable, factors such as the actual environment, cost budget, and long-term operation and maintenance needs need to be comprehensively considered to ensure the stable and efficient operation of the optical cable system.