Technology partner · Sumitomo
Sumitomo air-blown fiber installation
FutureFLEX air-blown fiber for campuses, ports and structures where fiber needs will change over time.
The short answer
WCC installs Sumitomo air-blown fiber (FutureFLEX) across Southern California, including work for the Port of Los Angeles. Air-blown fiber installs empty tube pathways first, then blows fiber through them with compressed air, so you can add or replace fiber later without pulling new cable. Few contractors in the region do this work.
How it works
How air-blown fiber works
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Tube cable | Bundles of small empty tubes are installed through the building or campus |
| Fiber blown in | Fiber is blown through the tubes with compressed air, only where needed |
| Changes later | Fiber can be added, upgraded or replaced by blowing it in or out |
| Splicing and testing | Every strand is fusion-spliced and tested |
When it fits
When air-blown fiber makes sense
Campuses and ports
Long runs between buildings that will change over decades.
Uncertain future needs
Pay for pathways now and fiber when you need it.
Hard-to-reach routes
Bridges, tunnels and structures where re-pulling cable is expensive.
Project
Vincent Thomas Bridge
For the Port of Los Angeles, we replaced a failed air-blown fiber backbone on the eastern span of the Vincent Thomas Bridge, rebuilding the FutureFLEX pathway with Sumitomo's field engineer on site, blowing in six 24-strand cables and splicing and testing all 144 strands inside a single scheduled outage. Read the project.
How it works
How an air-blown fiber project runs
Design
Routes, tube counts and splice points planned.
Design
Install pathway
Tube cable and enclosures installed.
Install
Blow and test
Fiber blown in, spliced and tested strand by strand.
Closeout
Why WCC
Why buy Sumitomo from WCC
Installed by our own team
California installs are done by WCC technicians, not handed to a subcontractor after the sale.
Everything around it
We also build the cabling, network, power and security the system depends on.
Licensed since 2003
CSLB #819788 with C-7, C-10 and C-28 classifications, plus CMAS and OMNIA Partners for public agencies.
FAQ
Sumitomo questions
What is air-blown fiber?
A system where empty tubes are installed first and fiber is blown through them with compressed air, so fiber can be added or replaced later.
Does WCC install Sumitomo air-blown fiber?
Yes, including work for the Port of Los Angeles on the Vincent Thomas Bridge.
Is air-blown fiber more expensive?
Pathway costs more up front, but adding or upgrading fiber later costs much less than new cable pulls.
Can air-blown fiber be repaired?
Yes. Damaged sections can be replaced and fiber re-blown without pulling the whole run.
Where is it used?
Campuses, ports, airports, hospitals and anywhere fiber needs will change over decades.
Related
Related guides and services
Get a recommendation
Talk to us about air-blown fiber
Send us your routes or drawings, and an engineer will tell you how we'd do it.