Clearfield recently released the StreetSmart Ready Connect Terminal (RCT), a fiber terminal that the manufacturer characterizes as craft-friendly and supports up to 8 drop connections in pedestal applications when midspan is needed. Clearfield further stated the RCT was “developed based on the demands of the market and feedback from customers,” and that it “addresses key operator needs, such as space constraints, ease of installation, and long-term reliability.” It is optimized for small pedestals, particularly including Clearfield’s 6-inch FiberFirst pedestal.
The RCT can be used in rural, suburban, and urban deployments and incorporates a design that supports both preterminated and spliced drops. It also includes a removable splice tray for routing of up to 24 loose-tube fibers. The company boasts the product is “an ideal solution for operators seeking efficient, scalable, and reliable fiber connections in above-ground pedestal installations.” Clearfield also emphasizes the following characteristics and benefits.
- Compact design—optimized for deployments in the 6-inch CraftSmart pedestal, offering a low-profile solution for residential and commercial areas
- Ease of access—thanks to the removable splice tray and adapter plate for cleaning, scoping, and splicing, which enables technicians to complete installations efficiently
- Robust protection—provided by durable materials and lay-in grommets for secure cable retention, ensuring long-term reliability across a number of environmental conditions
- Support for flexible applications—by accommodating midspan splicing and drop terminations
“The compact design of the Ready Connect Terminal ensures operators can meet the increasing demand for fiber broadband while maintaining the aesthetic integrity of residential and commercial spaces,” commented Anis Khemakhem, Clearfield’s chief marketing officer. “With its ability to handle midspan and drop terminations, the Ready Connect Terminal simplifies the deployment process for technicians, helping network providers bridge the digital divide faster and more cost-effectively.”
Optimized to address network-operator needs in above-ground distributed TAP and distributed split architecturs, the RCT is designed specifically for small-pedestal applications, thereby offering a smaller footprint and easier installation without compromising network performance, Clearfield concluded.
Donny Colson, director of OSP engineering and operations for Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative, described the RCT as one of Clearfield’s “innovative solutions that simplify fiber deployments and provide a scalable solution. The Ready Connect Terminal also includes key features that provide security to the fibers and flexibility in how it’s deployed in the outside plant, where space is a premium. The Ready Connect Terminal fits perfectly into our plans as it gives our field installation teams splicing options, protects the fiber strands from damage from animals, and allows us to streamline deployment as it can be used with all of our member network deployments.”
