3M Brings Fiber Inside the Apartment

AUSTIN, TX - Introduced at the 2011 Broadband Properties Summit, 3M's new One Pass Mini Fiber Pathway is a single-fiber, adhesive-backed, surface-mount cable pathway and drop cable solution that takes fiber deep into a living unit with minimal disruption.

Two years ago, the original 3M One Pass Fiber Pathway hallway solution revolutionized FTTP network installation for MDUs with a horizontal cable pathway and drop cable solution installed in just one pass around a hallway perimeter, yielding an estimated installation savings of 35 percent. To date, the One Pass Fiber Pathway has been installed by operators in more than a dozen countries.

The new product, One Pass Mini, connects to a hallway distribution cable and is routed inside a living unit to a wall outlet positioned near an ONT. 3M adhesive technology ensures reliable installation on a wide variety of surfaces, even painted or sealed concrete where stapling cables isn’t an option. The solution, installed in just one pass, enables quiet installation, maintains signal integrity and delivers a high-performance broadband solution in a low-profile package. Together, the One Pass Fiber Pathway hallway solution and the new One Pass Mini Fiber Pathway offer a total package for an MDU fiber solution both inside and outside the living unit. Both fiber pathway solutions include the field-terminated 3M No Polish Connector.

Easy installation makes the One Pass Mini suitable for single-family homes, schools, hotels, hospitals and small businesses in addition to MDUs.

Universal Communications Group recently used the One Pass Mini Fiber Pathway and One Pass Fiber Pathway to install a fiber network in Pacific Park, a 162-unit condominium community in Sydney, Australia. “We chose the One Pass solution from 3M because it was the only solution that offered fast installation with minimal disruption to our residents and an unobtrusive design,” says Jack Mazaraki, Pacific Park's consulting architect. “One Pass was a great solution for this property. The fiber-to-the-unit network is delivering an excellent TV service with minimal aesthetic impact. The platform also provides a solid platform for the future delivery of additional services to residents, such as IP-based access control and security options.”