Tasks performed by telecommunication operators with respect to the maintenance of optical fibre cable networks fall into two categories: preventative maintenance and post-fault maintenance. Preventative maintenance activities consist of surveillance, testing and control. This is the latest revision of a Recommendation that was first published in 1996. This article will explore the three core stages: fiber optic cable selection and installation, usage and maintenance, and aging assessment and replacement. Small oil micro-deposits and dust particles on fiber optic cable optical surfaces may cause a loss of light or degraded signal power which may ultimately cause intermittent problems in the optical connection. Quarterly/Semi-annual Maintenance: Perform OTDR testing on fiber optic lines, verify system alarm records, and update maintenance logs.
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