Armored fiber optic cables designed for direct burial cost $6-14 per linear foot. Conduit systems add $2-4 per foot but allow future cable additions. With performance of resisting external mechanical damage and soil erosion, it can be directly buried in the ground. These fibers are thin strands, often as small as a human hair, that transmit data as pulses of light. With prices ranging from $1 to over $ 50 per linear foot, depending on the installation method. Ribbon cables offer higher fiber counts and greater fiber density than any other cable construction designed for the outside plant (OSP), up to eight times the highest-fiber-count loose tube cable. Installing fiber underground is one of the most durable ways to protect a network's backbone — when it's done right. Direct-burial fiber cable eliminates the need for continuous conduit runs and can be faster and more cost-effective on long, open runs.
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