These cables are designed to comply with ICEA-640, “Standard for Fiber Optic Outside Plant Communications Cables,” in accordance with TIA/EIA-568-B. The Fiber Optic Association, Inc. The charter of the FOA was to promote professionalism in fiber optics through education, certification, and. There are three common laying methods for outdoor optical cables, namely: underground pipeline laying (that is, laying optical cables in underground pipelines), direct underground laying and overhead laying (that is, laying from utility poles to utility poles in the air. Depending on engineering. Recommendations for Fiber Optic Cable Installation Where reels are supplied with protective material fitted over the cable, the protection should remain in place until the cable will be installed. During installation, all curvatures should be smooth. Understanding Overhead Fiber Optic Cable Overhead fiber optic cable are designed to be suspended from utility poles or dedicated structures, leveraging existing aerial infrastructure to minimize construction costs. Unlike buried cable, they excel in rural or suburban areas where trenching is. Deploying fiber above ground on poles or towers removes the need for underground digging and is particularly useful when the ground is uneven, rocky or both.