Campus-Like Environment FiberTRAX Installation - June 2025   - TRAXyL | Optical Fiber Network Solutions White Papers

Campus-Like Environment FiberTRAX Installation

June 2025

Executive Summary

Enabling digital equity and closing the digital divide has become extremely important. It was especially exacerbated from the COVID-19 pandemic. Fiber is a key piece of infrastructure for data connectivity around the world because of its ability to support huge bandwidth with low latency. Due to the increased use of telehealth, remote work, and online schooling, there is an increased demand for connecting more and more devices that create efficient, safe, and smart communities. As technology evolves and more Internet of Things (IOT) devices are connected, a higher bandwidth, lower latency, and reliable connection are needed beyond wireless solutions, twisted pair, and coaxial lines in use throughout the world today.

Fiber cabling is the most preferred medium by far, for data connectivity. It has been dubbed “future-proof” by industry experts because of its high data capacity, low-latency, and ability to service a multitude of end devices all at once. While fiber cables generally exist in and between major cities, approximately only 43% of the US population has fiber installed to their home [1], indicating a massive gap in the last-mile market. Installing last-mile and middle-mile optical fiber using conventional methods is inefficient, time consuming, dangerous to the worker, negatively impacts the environment, and expensive. Obtaining permits and approvals using these methods regularly takes months to achieve because of design conflicts with existing rights-of-ways and other utilities, soil study requirements, rock, and other environmental influences, like high-water tables. While there are some benefits to utility poles, they still are not a preferred option, because one must obtain permission to use the poles, pay “make-ready” fees, and pay additional ongoing fees for each attachment point on the pole. Other conventional methods like Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) aka boring, open trenching, and microtrenching poses their own challenges to get optical fiber installed. These techniques are extremely slow, both in planning and installation, disruptive to daily operations, create a high-risk for damaging existing utilities, and are very expensive.

AHRC- Nassau, New York

When AHRC-Nassau, New York decided it was time to upgrade the network communication infrastructures at three of their facilities, TRAXyL was selected as the preferred solution.

AHRC Nassau is one of 35 local Chapters of The Arc New York [2], the largest provider of supports and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in New York state. In addition to the programs AHRC Nassau offers in Nassau County, Chapters of The Arc New York collectively support more than 60,000 people with disabilities and their families in every county of the state and employ more than 30,000 people in their shared mission to provide people with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities the ordinary and extraordinary opportunities of life.

Founded by families more than 75 years ago, The Arc New York has driven transformation and progress in the lives of people with disabilities, fought and ended the abuses of institutionalization, and developed a robust system of community support that provides opportunity, dignity, and integration for people with disabilities. Together with AHRC Nassau and other Chapters across the state, The Arc New York continues to be an influential advocate for our system of care, and the rights and opportunities of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

[1] Fiber-Optic Internet In the United States at a Glance (broadbandnow.com)

[2] The Arc New York – For People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The FiberTRAX Solution

FiberTRAX is generally described as “painting” optical fiber directly on any paved surface. However, there are detailed steps that are performed by an installation machine called a TRAXtor that will install FiberTRAX in a single pass at around 1,000 feet per hour.

The FiberTRAX installation process occurs as described below:

Step 1: The TRAXtor creates a small “etch” or “groove” that is approximately 10 to 20 mm wide and 15 mm to 25 mm deep in the surface layer of pavement or asphalt. The TRAXtor will vacuum any debris generated from the channel with the channel helping protect the fiber cable from damage.

Step 2: The TRAXtor then places a fiber cable into the newly created channel. TRAXyL can even customize the installation further by placing multiple cables in a single channel.

Step 3: The TRAXtor mixes a Top Coat resin with a catalyst and deposits it over the cable(s), inside the channel. The Top Coat takes about 30 to 60 minutes to fully cure. The Top Coat locks and holds the cable in place and protects the cable from damage, finalizing the FiberTRAX line.

The TRAXtor machines combine these steps into a seamless process that can be completed on-demand. FiberTRAX is a convenient way to install fiberoptic cables to hard-to-reach or underserved areas where traditional methods are too expensive or otherwise not viable.

Installations for AHRC Using FiberTRAX

TRAXyL has completed three installations on AHRC campuses in New York to bring their connectivity needs to the next level. These installations were completed in a matter of days and brought the facilities up-to-date with fiber to each building needed.

New York is no stranger to harsh cold and freezing temperatures in the winter, and extreme heat in the summer. FiberTRAX technology should breeze through any location year after year. Below are three locations where the power of FiberTRAX can be visualized.

The Value Add With FiberTRAX

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