Connectors in the outside plant environment: is performance and reliability a concern

Telecommunication systems for telephony, video and other broadband services will use a large number of fiber optic connectors in the outside plant. In order to meet telecom plant expectations, these connectors must maintain their performance for at least 15-20 years. Are the available connector designs capable of meeting these requirements? Is performance and reliability a concern? To answer these questions and develop some understanding, SC type connectors from four manufacturers were subjected to a series of tests to simulate outside plant conditions. This paper presents the results of the environmental tests and discusses issues related with fiber optic connectors. >