Sights Unseen: Telecommunications triage with Oxford Networks

A single strand of fiber-optic cable can carry a lot of data or hundreds of phone calls, unlike the single call an old copper wire could handle. And it can do it at blinding speed compared to previous technology. However, with the advantages of this new technology comes some trade-offs. With copper wire, a technician needing to make a splice could use his knife to strip off the plastic coating and twist the copper core together with the other wire and then wrap some electrical tape around the connection. The tiny glass fiber inside fiber-optic cable needs delicate care and specialized equipment to make connections.

Oxford Networks in Lewiston has become a leader in fiber-optic service, using a fleet of customized vehicles to service their customers, including a splicer truck that has a very specific, but important job to perform. A skilled technician must use specialized equipment to match up the tiny cables and splice them together, often in inclement weather. “Having a warm, well-lit and well- equipped space to do it makes all the difference in the world,” said cable splicer Troy Keach during a recent demonstration.