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Fiber-optic sensing technology can be a game changer for the ROI of internet service providers, according to Paul Dickinson of the FOSA.

By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

Paul Dickinson, the chair of the Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA) and director of business development for Dura-Line, is on a mission to raise awareness about a technology he says can help providers maximize their return on investment.

In a recent appearance on Beyond the Cable, a BBCMag.com podcast, Dickinson said the association would like to see providers and network designers place routes strategically, allowing for a maximization of the utility.

As Dickinson discussed, the data captured by fiber-optic sensing can be of value to both network operators and multiple parties.

From detecting earthquakes to identifying when a construction crew is excavating nearby, fiber-optic sensing can provide telecom and utility operators the chance to proactively alert, identify, and address a situation before catastrophic failure.

“Over the next two, five years or so, there’s going to be a lot of spend in these markets,” Dickinson said, adding that he has a sense of urgency to spread awareness of the technology due to the deployment of federal funds.

Dickinson said now is the time for network designers to capitalize on a strategy that includes fiber-optic sensing.

“Fiber-to-the-home is the buzzword now,” Dickinson said. “We believe this is the next, big ‘fiber-to-the-home.'”

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