On 9/21/2010 10:52, Holmes,David A wrote: > Modern telephone pole aerial fiber uses all dialectric self-supporting > (ADSS) technology, where the self-supporting component consists > primarily of aramid yarn, the same material used for bullet-proof vests. > This makes for an extremely light weight, almost indestructible fiber > bundle. My guess is that ADSS fiber would deflect any bullets, or it > would take a very good marksman using a very high caliber weapon to > actually sever an aerial fiber. > > Now in the case described below where optical ground wire (OPGW) fiber > is used as a component in the ground wire running at the top of high > voltage transmission towers, it may be possible to hit the insulators at > the top of the towers, but the ground wire itself is usually armored, > with ADSS inside. Seems far-fetched to me. >
Back in my ISP days it was more common for people to take pot shots at remote equipment cabinets than the cable/fiber itself. Any field enclosure is as easy a target as your average bullet-ridden road sign. Although this was extremely rare; I can only recall one instance where it was the direct cause of an outage. ~Seth