I’m a big proponent of improving the nation’s broadband infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. Unfortunately, our data communication infrastructure is late to the game and is being put in place or upgraded more recently than the previously existing water, electric, and sewer infrastructure which has been in place for a long time. Because of that, network connections have to deal with construction built over top of these previously established paths and other obstacles. This can make expanding a network in the big city even more difficult than in the wide-open rural areas.
In this video, Verizon demonstrates “microtrenching” which allows them to run fiber optic cables in a much faster and less disruptive manner through downtown New York and connect devices to their FiOS service.
The use of microtrenching is being used as a pilot program in agreement with the City of New York. The video makes it clear how the microtrenching approach is certainly less destructive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbGIa8tx3oM
You can find more details at Verizon’s News Center.