Patent Description:
In the field of modern communication systems and together with the rapid growth of the so-called broadband services provided by one or more telecommunication operators, a progressive implementation of optical fibre cabling is underway, which allow to effectively transport the quantity of data necessary for such services (for example, telephone, data and/or video services) to an end user.

Optical access networks generally called FTTX, such as FTTH (Fibre To The Home), FTTP (Fibre To The Premises), FTTB (Fibre To The Building), FTTC (Fibre To The Cabinet), are optical access networks providing a number of end users with broadband communication services from telecommunication operators, in particular with services requiring data transmission at a very high rate, for example of the order of some Mbit/s.

A mutualization point in a FTTX network is a point wherein more external fibre-optic telecommunication networks, each handled by a respective telecommunication operator, can be connected to a user network, handled by a user network operator.

A mutualization point is typically implemented in a cabinet comprising optical fibre cabling and accessories.

The cabinet may be indoors (for example, when installed in the basement of a building) or outdoors (for example, when installed on a street).

In the first case (indoors cabinet), the user network is typically deployed inside a building from the cabinet to each user's apartment.

In the second case (outdoors cabinet, also known as "street cabinet"), the user network is typically deployed from the cabinet to individual user's houses, premises, shops or enterprises, in a residential, commercial or industrial area.

<CIT> and <CIT> disclose telecommunications cabinets.

<CIT> discloses a telecommunication cabinet comprising a splitter preconfigured with a secondary cable (at a cable entry) and a plurality of cables (at cable exits) terminated by connectors, and a plurality of adapters connected to a plurality of customer equipment cables. The free end of the secondary cable is spliced into an end of a OSP (outside plant) cable and the connectors of the plurality of cables are pre-inserted within connector holders snapped into suitably openings of the cabinet, waiting to be successively inserted into the adapters connected to the plurality of customer equipment cables. When a customer connection is required, a customer equipment cable is led into cabinet and terminated with a connector. This connector is inserted within a rear opening of one of the plurality of adapters. Alternatively, when cabinet is installed, the rear of all adapters may have customer equipment cables prewired and these cables led to the customer premises in anticipation of future customer hookups. When such a prewired customer desires a live connection, a cable of the plurality of cables from the splitter is selected and its connector is removed from respective connector holder to be inserted within a front opening of the appropriate adapter.

<CIT> discloses a modular system for the connection of an external communication network to a user network of a building, comprising:.

wherein the external communication network is operatively associated to the user network by means of a connection of the connectors of the fibre optic connection elements with respective selected adapters of the user module.

The Applicant notes that the solution disclosed by <CIT> does not contemplate, and is not suitable for, the case of a mutualization outdoor cabinet wherein multiple external fibre-optic telecommunication networks, each handled by a respective telecommunication operator, can be connected to a user network, handled by a same user network operator.

Indeed, in a mutualization outdoor cabinet, every time an end user switches from a current telecommunication operator to a new, different telecommunication operator (e.g. offering a better economical offer), new optical fibre cabling and accessories have to be installed in the cabinet (if not already present for such operator) and new connections have to be made to connect the end user to the right cabling, associated to the new telecommunication operator. The cabinet is thus accessed by multiple telecommunication operators that can create a certain degree of mess over the time. In a dense area like inside an outdoor cabinet wherein hundreds of optical fibres with related accessories can be installed, after few years of exploitation the situation can become very complex in terms of maintenance and cable identifications inside the cabinet. These issues are neither mentioned nor faced by <CIT>.

On the other side, the Applicant notes that the solution disclosed by <CIT> relates to an indoor cabinet made of a plurality of structurally independent user/operator modules, which is not suitable for an outdoor cabinet. Indeed, the use of structurally independent modules, connected to each other via a patching channel defined by coaxial openings provided in the modules, may impair the robustness, compactness and water-tightness of the cabinet that are important for outdoors applications.

The Applicant thus faced the technical problem of providing an outdoor cabinet which is suitable (e.g. in terms of robustness, compactness and water-tightness) for outdoor applications and, at the same time, enables to improve management of optical fibre cabling and connections when the cabinet is accessed by different technicians (operating for different telecommunication operators), in particular in case of mutualization applications.

The present disclosure thus relates to an outdoor telecommunications cabinet according to claim <NUM> as well as to an assembly according to claim <NUM> and a method of installation according to claim <NUM>.

In particular, in a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to an outdoor telecommunications cabinet for connecting an external communication network to a user network, made of a single piece case comprising:.

The present disclosure also relates to a method of installation of an outdoor telecommunications cabinet according to the first aspect, comprising:.

The outdoor cabinet of the present disclosure, being made, as a single (not modular) piece, enables to provide robustness, compactness and water-tightness that are important for outdoor applications.

Moreover, the single-piece cabinet of the present disclosure is compartmentalized in two distint areas, a first one dedicated to house optical fibre cabling and accessories for connection to the user network and a second one dedicated to house optical fibre cabling and accessories for connection to the external fibre-optic telecommunication networks. Optical fibre patch cords are provided for connecting the optical fibre cabling and accessories of the first area to the optical fibre cabling and accessories of the second area. Moreover, a connector holder in the second area is provided for temporarily parking and protecting second end connectors of the patch cords, waiting to be connected to the optical fibre cabling and accessories of the second area, once installed in the relevant space of the second area. In this way, different telecommunication operators willing to connect their external communication networks to the user network, need only to access the second end connectors of the patch cords parked in the second area while the first area can be completely closed and made accesible only to the user network operator (e.g. by a secured keyed lock). In this way, the user network side -confined in the first area- is secured, while the management of optical fibre cabling and connections in the second area is simpliflied in that the different telecommunication operators willing to connect their external communication networks to end users of the user network, simply have to make a connection of their cabling to the appropriate second end connectors of the patch cords, after extracting them from the connector holder (e.g. in case of a first connection to the end users) or after disconnecting them from the cabling of a previous telecommunication operator (in case the end users switch from one operator to another).

Optical fibres are the most common type of channel for optical communications. An optical fibre is a dielectric (or non-electrically conductive) waveguide comprising a core surrounded by a cladding, both the core and the cladding being typically made of silica-based materials. Core and cladding have different refractive indexes so that total reflection occurs at their boundary, which confines light and allows its transmission along the fibre. An optical fibre typically also comprises a single-layer or double-layer coating (e.g. an acrylate coating) providing mechanical protection to core and cladding and, optionally, a buffer (e.g. in thermoplastic polymer). Optical fibres for optical communications typically have a core with a diameter of about <NUM>-<NUM> microns (for single-mode fibres) or about <NUM>-<NUM> microns (for multi-mode fibres), a cladding with outer diameter of about <NUM> microns, a coating with outer diameter of about <NUM> microns and, optionally, a buffer with outer diameter of about <NUM>-<NUM> microns.

In the present disclosure and claims, the term "optical fibre" is used to indicate a single-fibre cable, that is an optical cable comprising a single optical fibre.

In the present disclosure and claims, the term "connecting optical fibre" is used to indicate an optical fibre length without optical accessories in the middle (such as a mechanical or fused splicings, joints, connectors), with an optical connector pre-installed on one end and exposed fibre at the other, opposite end.

In the present disclosure and claims, the term "optical fibre cable" is used to indicate a multi-fibre cable comprising at least two optical fibres enclosed in a common protective outer jacket.

In the present disclosure and claims, the term "pigtail" is used to indicate an optical fibre length having an optical connector pre-installed on one end and exposed fibre at the other, opposite end.

In the present disclosure and claims, the term "optical fibre patch cord" is used to indicate an optical fibre length having an optical connector pre-installed on both ends, without optical accessories in the middle (such as a mechanical or fused splicings, joints, connectors).

In the present disclosure and claims, the term "optical fibre cabling" is used to indicate single optical fibres, optical fibre cables comprising several fibres, pigtails, optical fibre patch cords and similar elements.

In the present disclosure and claims, the term "accessories" is used to indicate support trays, splicing trays, adapters, connector holders, splitters, winding elements, stowage mandrels, spools, excess cable storage areas, and similar devices.

In the present disclosure and claims, the term "excess length of connecting optical fibre" is used to indicate an excess length with respect to the size of the cabinet.

In the present disclosure and claims, the term "excess length of patch cords" is used to indicate an excess length with respect to a length needed to connect the first area to the second area of the cabinet.

In the present disclosure and claims, the terms "top", "bottom", "front", "rear", "behind", "beside", and similar, used with reference to the cabinet and optical cabling and accessories housed therein, are used with reference to a use condition in which the cabinet is installed on a site.

The present disclosure, in at least one of the aforementioned aspects, can be implemented according to one or more of the following embodiments, optionally combined together.

In an embodiment, the cabinet is a ready-made cabinet wherein the first area, intended for connection to the user network, is prefabricated (e.g. at the manufacturing factory), before installation on site, with all required optical fibre cabling and accessories and connections. On the other side, the second area is pre-fabricated to house the connector holder temporarily parking and protecting the second end connectors of the patch cords, waiting to be connected to the optical fibre cabling and accessories of the external telecommunication network.

The ready-made cabinet advantageously enables to simplify and minimize the installation operations, in particular on the user network side.

In an embodiment, the cabinet is a ready-made cabinet wherein the first area is pre-fabricated (e.g. at the manufacturing factory) with the plurality of optic adapters, the corresponding plurality of connecting optical fibres, and the corresponding plurality of optical fibre patch cords; and the second area is pre-fabricated (e.g. at the manufacturing factory) with the connector holder with the plurality of seats, wherein:.

In an embodiment, the connecting optical fibres each have an excess length to be deployed out from the cabinet to an external joint for splicing the free ends of the connecting optical fibres to respective free ends of the optical fibres of the user network.

In an embodiment, the connection point is the external joint.

Moreover, the step of making the connection between the free ends of the connecting optical fibres and respective ends of the optical fibres of the user network out from the cabinet comprises:.

In an embodiment, said step of making the connection further comprises splicing (e.g. by means of fusion or mechanical splicing) the free ends of the connecting optical fibres to the respective free ends of the optical fibres of the user network.

The above provision enables to make the splicing outside the cabinet thereby eliminating the need of making the splicing operation inside the cabinet. Considering that outdoor cabinets are often in locations which makes the splicing procedure not comfortable, this advantageously enables the responsible technicians to make the splicing, which is a quite critical operation, in a more convenient location at the joint wherein they can work more safely and easily. Moreover, in case the outdoor cabinet is damaged or vandalized, and a need arises to replace the connecting optical fibres, the replacement operation is simplified as well for similar reasons. Indeed, inside the cabinet it is sufficient to replace the damaged connecting optical fibres with new connecting optical fibres by engaging the optical fibre connectors at the terminated ends of the new connecting optical fibres with the first sides of the adapters; the critical splicing operation being performed at the joint outside the cabinet. Therefore, it is avoided the risk to replace hundreds of meters of cables connecting the outdoor cabinet with the closest joint outside the cabinet, as in outdoor cabinet commonly in use.

In an embodiment, the excess lengths of the connecting optical fibres are enclosed into at least one optical fibre cable.

In an embodiment, the outdoor telecommunications cabinet further comprises fixing means to fix the at least one optical fibre cable within the cabinet (e.g. to a wall of the cabinet).

In an embodiment, the first area of the cabinet has an opening for enabling said at least one optical fibre cable to exit the cabinet.

In an embodiment, the patch cords have an excess length adapted to be deployed inside the second area for connection to the fibre optic cabling and/or accessories of the external communication network.

The excess length of the patch cords advantageously enables the second end connectors of the patch cords, extracted from the connector holder, to reach the fibre optic cabling and/or accessories of the external communication network, after the latter are inserted in the relevant space of the second area.

In an embodiment, the method of installation of the cabinet further comprises installing the fibre optic cabling and/or accessories of the external communication network in the relevant space of the second area.

In an embodiment, the method of installation of the cabinet further comprises extracting from the connector holder at least part of the optical fibre connectors terminating the second ends of the optical fibre patch cords and connecting them to the fibre optic cabling and/or accessories of the external communication network installed in the relevant space of the second area.

In an embodiment, the second area further comprises stowage mandrels for winding at least part of the excess length of the patch cords about them.

In an embodiment, the method of installation of the cabinet further comprises unwinding at least part of the excess length of the patch cords from the stowage mandrels to make the above connection to the fibre optic cabling and/or accessories of the external communication network installed in the relevant space of the second area.

In an embodiment, the outdoor telecommunications cabinet further comprises guiding passages for guiding the patch cords from the adapters to the stowage mandrels and from the stowage mandrels to the connector holder.

In an embodiment, the first closure door is configured to be locked/unlocked independently from the second closure door. In an embodiment, the first closure door is secured by an electronic or mechanical (e.g. key) lock to restrict access only to authorized technicians.

In an embodiment, the plurality of adapters define at least one adapter array of adapters supported by a common support.

In an embodiment, the seats of the connector holder define at least one array of seats supported by a common support.

In an embodiment, the excess lengths of the connecting optical fibres are over <NUM> meters; for example, <NUM> to <NUM> meters.

In an embodiment, the seats have first open sides configured to receive the optical fibre connectors terminating the second ends of the patch cords, and opposite second sides, which are closed.

In an embodiment, the second closed sides of the seats are closed by means of transparent caps.

The present disclosure also relates to an assembly comprising the outdoor cabinet according to any of the features disclosed above, and a box disposed near the cabinet to store the excess lengths of the connecting optical fibres out from the cabinet, before deployment from the cabinet to the external joint.

In an embodiment, the step of making the connection between the free ends of the connecting optical fibres and respective ends of the optical fibres of the user network comprises deploying the excess length of the connecting optical fibres out from the box to the external joint.

The features and advantages of the present disclosure will be made apparent by the following detailed description of some exemplary embodiments thereof, provided merely by way of non-limiting examples, description that will be conducted by making reference to the attached drawings, wherein:.

<FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> show an outdoor telecommunications cabinet <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The outdoor telecommunications cabinet <NUM> might be mounted on a pedestal or other mount in an outdoor area (e.g. a residential, industrial or commercial area) where optical fibre connectivity for end users is desired. For example, in <FIG>, the cabinet is shown mounted on a pedestal <NUM> in a street pavement <NUM>.

In an embodiment, cabinet <NUM> provides a mutualization point for various external communication networks (generally indicated in <FIG> with the reference number <NUM>) to be connected to a user network (generally indicated in <FIG> with the reference number <NUM>) leading to user equipments (not shown) to provide optical fibre service and connectivity at user's locations (not shown).

In an embodiment, cabinet <NUM> is made from rigid plastics, or metals such as steel, stainless steel, or aluminium. Polycarbonate, glass-reinforced, and fibreglass materials can also be used where stronger cabinets are required, and may additionally have a gasket to exclude dust and moisture.

The cabinet <NUM> comprises a single piece case <NUM> having a box-shape with an interior space that can be accessed to by means of a first closure door <NUM> and a second closure door <NUM>.

The interior space is compartmentalized into a first area <NUM>, associated with the first closure door <NUM>, and a second area <NUM>, associated with the second closure door <NUM>. The second closure door <NUM> can be closed/opened independently from the first closure door <NUM>. In an embodiment, the second closure door <NUM> and the first closure door <NUM> are equipped with two different, indipendent electronic or mechanical locks <NUM>', <NUM>' so that they can be locked/unlocked independently from each other.

In the embodiement shown in the figures, the first area <NUM> is located on the right side of the cabinet <NUM>, beside the second area <NUM>, which is located on the left side of the cabinet <NUM>. However, the two areas <NUM>, <NUM> can also be located in different positions, for example one above the other.

As shown in <FIG>, the plurality of optic adapters <NUM> can be arranged in one or more adapter arrays <NUM>, each supported by a respective support and housed in a respective sub-rack <NUM>. For illustrative purposes, in the figures two adapter arrays <NUM> are contemplated (e.g. each comprising <NUM> optic adapters), with the respective sub-racks <NUM> mounted one over the other on an upper part of a rear wall of the first area <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, each adapter array <NUM> is housed in the respective sub-rack <NUM> with first (rear) sides <NUM> of the adapters <NUM> positioned at the back and second (front) sides of the adapters <NUM> positioned frontally. The first rear sides <NUM> of the adapters <NUM> are suitably configured (as in conventional optic adapters) to receive optical connectors <NUM> terminating the connecting optical fibres <NUM>. The second (front) sides (not shown) of the adapters <NUM> are suitably configured (as in conventional optic adapters) to receive optical connectors (not shown) terminating the optical fibre patch cords <NUM>.

Notwithstanding the above description, it will be clear that different numbers and arrangements of the adapters <NUM>, adapter arrays <NUM> and sub-racks <NUM> inside the first area <NUM> can be provided.

The seats <NUM> of the connector holder <NUM> can be arranged in seat arrays <NUM>, one for each adapter array <NUM>. Each seat array <NUM> is supported by a respective support. In the embodiment shown in the figures, two seat arrays <NUM> are provided (e.g. each comprising <NUM> seats), housed in a same sub-rack <NUM> mounted on an upper part of a rear wall of the second area <NUM>.

As shown if <FIG>, the two seat arrays <NUM> are mounted within the sub-rack <NUM> so as to face each other. Each seat array <NUM> is housed in the sub-rack <NUM> with first (rear) sides <NUM> of the seats <NUM> positioned at the back and second, opposite (front) sides <NUM> of the seats <NUM> positioned frontally. The first (rear) sides <NUM> are configured to receive optical connectors <NUM> terminating the optical fibre patch cords <NUM>. The second (front) sides <NUM> of seats <NUM> are closed.

The seats <NUM> can consist of optic adapters.

As shown in the embodiment of <FIG>, the second (front) sides <NUM> of seats <NUM> are closed by means of transparent caps <NUM>. When a connection to an end user is desired, this advantageously enables to recognize the patch cord <NUM> linking to said end user, by sending a luminous signal (e.g. from a LED light source) into an optical fibre at the end user side and watching which transparent cap <NUM> lights up at the connector holder <NUM>.

In addition or alternative, the patch cord <NUM> linking to a desired end user can be recognized by means of a suitable identifying code.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the sub-rack <NUM> is devoid of any front panel. This may be particularly useful when transparent caps <NUM> are used so as to guarantee immediate visibility of the transparent cap <NUM> which lights up.

In alternative, the sub-rack <NUM> may be provided with a front openable/removable panel.

Notwithstanding the above description, it will be clear that different numbers and arrangements of the seats <NUM>, seat arrays <NUM> and sub-racks <NUM> inside the second area <NUM> can be provided.

The cabinet <NUM> has an internal frame <NUM> configured for enabling optical fibre cabling and accessories to be fixed within the cabinet <NUM>. For example, the sub-racks <NUM> and the sub-rack <NUM> are suitably fixed to the internal frame <NUM>.

At the sub-racks <NUM>, the connecting optical fibres <NUM> branch off from one or more optical fibre cables <NUM> (two optical fibre cables <NUM> are exemplarily shown in <FIG>, one for each sub-rack <NUM>). For example, each optical fibre cable <NUM> comprises <NUM> connecting optical fibres <NUM>. The optical fibre cables <NUM> are housed in the cabinet <NUM> to get to the subracks <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, within each sub-rack <NUM>, the respective optical fibre cable <NUM> terminates with a fan out <NUM> from which the connecting optical fibres <NUM> branch off, arranged in micro-modules <NUM>, each comprising a number of the connecting optical fibres <NUM> (e.g. <NUM> micro-modules, each comprising <NUM> connecting optical fibres <NUM>). Each micro-module <NUM> is for example equipped with a protective plastic jacket, enclosing the respective number of connecting optical fibres <NUM> as a whole.

As shown in <FIG>, the fan out <NUM> and the micro-modules <NUM> branching off from one optical fibre cable <NUM> are arranged in the respective sub-rack <NUM>, wherein the single connecting optical fibres <NUM> come out from the respective micro-modules <NUM> for connection to the adapters <NUM>. Each optical fibre cable <NUM> comes out of the respective sub-rack <NUM>.

The connecting optical fibres <NUM> have opposite free ends and teminated ends. As shown in <FIG>, the terminated ends of connecting optical fibres <NUM> are terminated with respective optical fibre connectors <NUM> that are respectively engaged with the first (rear) sides <NUM> of the adapters <NUM>.

As exemplarily shown in <FIG>, the connecting optical fibres <NUM> each have an excess length to be deployed out from the cabinet <NUM> via suitable ducts <NUM> to an external joint <NUM> for splicing the free ends of the connecting optical fibres <NUM> to respective free ends of the optical fibres (not shown) of the user network <NUM>.

The excess lengths of the connecting optical fibres <NUM> are such as to enable the free ends of the connecting optical fibres <NUM> to reach the position of the external joint <NUM>. For example, they may be in the range of <NUM> to <NUM> meters.

As explained above, the excess lengths of the connecting optical fibres <NUM> are enclosed into the optical fibre cables <NUM> exiting the sub-racks <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown, the cabinet <NUM> comprises fixing means <NUM> to fix the optical fibre cables <NUM> to the internal frame <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown, the first area <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM> has at the bottom an opening <NUM> for enabling the optical fibre cables <NUM> to exit the cabinet <NUM>.

The optical fibre patch cords <NUM> have opposite first and second ends, all terminated with respective optical fibre connectors.

The optical fibre connectors (not shown) terminating the first ends of the patch cords <NUM> are respectively engaged with second (front) sides (not shown) of the adapters <NUM>. On the other side, as shown in <FIG>, the optical fibre connectors <NUM> terminating the second ends <NUM> of the patch cords <NUM> are respectively engaged with the first (rear) sides <NUM> of the seats <NUM> of the connector holder <NUM>.

As stated above, the first (rear) sides <NUM> of the seats <NUM> of the connector holder <NUM> are located on a rear surface of the connector holder <NUM>. As clear from <FIG>, the two seat arrays <NUM> are mounted within the sub-rack <NUM> hinged to the internal frame <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM> so that they can be rotated singularly or together to access the first (rear) sides <NUM> of the seats <NUM> for connection to the optical fibre connectors <NUM> terminating the second ends <NUM> of the patch cords <NUM>.

As shown in the embodiment of <FIG>, also the the adapter arrays <NUM> can be mounted within the the sub-racks <NUM> hinged to the internal frame <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM> so that they can be rotated to access the first (rear) sides <NUM> of the adapters <NUM> for connection to the optical fibre connectors <NUM> of connecting optical fibres <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>). Moreover, the sub-racks <NUM> will have an openable/removable front panel enabling access to the the second (front) sides (not shown) of the adapters <NUM> for connection to the optical fibre connectors (not shown) terminating the first ends of the patch cords <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown, the patch cords <NUM> have an excess length to be deployed inside the free space <NUM> of the second area <NUM> for connection to the optical fibre cabling and/or accessories (not shown) of the external communication network <NUM>, after they have been mounted in the free space <NUM>.

The excess lengths of the patch cords <NUM> are such as to enable the optical fibre connectors <NUM> terminating the second ends <NUM> of the patch cords <NUM> (after extraction from the respective seats <NUM>) to reach the optical fibre cabling and/or accessories of the external communication network <NUM>. For example, they may be in the range of <NUM>-<NUM> meters meters.

In the embodiment shown, the second area <NUM> further comprises stowage mandrels <NUM> for winding at least part of the excess length of the patch cords <NUM> about them. In this way, the excess length of the patch cords <NUM> can be stored in a tidy manner, waiting to be deployed inside the free space <NUM>, during use of the cabinet <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown, the cabinet <NUM> also comprises guiding passages <NUM> for guiding the patch cords <NUM> from the respective adapters <NUM> to the respective stowage mandrels <NUM> and from the latter to the connector holder <NUM>.

In an embodiment, before being installed on the field, the cabinet <NUM> is ready-made at the manufacturing factory, before installation of the cabinet <NUM> on site. In particular, the cabinet is pre-fabricated with the optical fibre cabling and accessories already mounted as described above. In particuar the adapter arrays <NUM> will be already mounted into the respective sub-racks <NUM>, the seat arrays <NUM> will be already mounted into the sub-rack <NUM>, the connecting optical fibres <NUM> will be pre-connected to the respective adapters <NUM>, the patch cords <NUM> will be pre-connected on one side to the optic adapters <NUM> and, on the other side, to the seats <NUM>. Moreover, the optical fibre cables <NUM> can be terminated with fan out <NUM> from which the connecting optical fibres <NUM> are branched off, arranged in micro-modules <NUM> at the manufacturing factory. As explained above with reference to <FIG>, the fan out <NUM> and the micro-modules <NUM> can be pre-installed in the respective sub-rack <NUM>, wherein the single connecting optical fibres <NUM> coming out from the respective micro-modules <NUM> are pre-connected to the adapters <NUM>.

For transportation purposes, the ready-made cabinet <NUM> can be transported on a pallet <NUM> equipped with a box <NUM> storing the excess lenghts of the connecting optical fibres <NUM> enclosed into the optical fibre cables <NUM>. An assembly comprising the cabinet <NUM> on pallet <NUM> equipped with box <NUM> is shown in <FIG>.

On site, the cabinet <NUM> can be lifted from the pallet <NUM>. As explained above with reference to <FIG>, the optical fibre cables <NUM> housing the excess lenghts of the connecting optical fibres <NUM> can be routed in suitable ducts <NUM> to reach the external joint <NUM>, and the cabinet <NUM> can be mounted on a pedestal or other mount <NUM> (e.g. fixed to a concrete base).

At the external joint <NUM> the free ends of the connecting optical fibres <NUM> will be spliced (e.g. by means of mechanical splices or fused fibre splices obtained by means of butt splicing between the fibres) to respective free ends of the optical fibres (not shown) of the user network <NUM>. In this way, no splicing operations are required inside the first area <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>. In oder words, the cabinet <NUM> is devoid of splicings within the first area <NUM>. Indeed, the connecting optical fibres <NUM> are devoid of optical accessories in the middle (such as a mechanical or fused splicings, joints, connectors), apart from the ends terminated with optical connectors <NUM>. Considering that outdoor cabinets are often in locations which makes the splicing procedure not confortable, this adavantageously enables the responsible technicians to make the splicing, which is a quite critical operation, in a more convenient location at the joint <NUM> wherein they can work more safely and easily.

In view of the above description, it will be clear that, for installation of ready-made cabinet <NUM>, the technician of the user network is only required -on the user network side- to route the optical cables <NUM> in the suitable ducts <NUM> to reach the external joint <NUM>, and to splice, at the external joint <NUM>, the free ends of the connecting optical fibres <NUM> to respective free ends of the optical fibres of the user network <NUM>.

This advantageously enables to simplify and minimize the installation operations of the cabinet <NUM> on the user network side.

Further to the above advantages of the ready-made cabinet <NUM>, it is noted that an embodiment of the cabinet <NUM> according to the present disclosure which is wholly or partly assembled on site (and not in its entirety at the manufacturing factory) is advantageous as well, as the assembling operations are simplified thanks to the fact that no splicing operations are required inside the first area <NUM>.

Once installed on site as explained above, the cabinet <NUM> is ready for connecting the user network <NUM> to external communication networks <NUM>. For this connection, the optical fibre cabling and accessories housed in the first area <NUM> need not to be accessed by the technicians of external communication networks, that can make the required connections by only accessing the second area <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first closure door <NUM> can thus be locked and its access can be restricted to trusted technicians operating for the user network operator only. In this way, the first area <NUM> is secured.

When a connection to an external communication network <NUM> (handled by a specific telecommunications operator) is required, the telecommunications operator will have to install the required optical fibre cabling and accessories into the free space <NUM> of the second area <NUM>, by fixing them to the internal frame <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>. Such optical fibre cabling and accessories can comprise, for examples, pigtails, patch cords, optical fibre cables, optic adapters, splicing trays, splitters, and similar devices.

An opening <NUM> is provided at the bottom of the second area <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM> for enabling passage of required optical fibre cabling.

The optical fibre cabling will comprise, for example, pigtails (not shown) connecting to the external communication network <NUM> and terminated at one end with suitable optical connectors. In order to make a connection with predetermined end users, these pigtails will have to be connected to selected patch cords <NUM> of cabinet <NUM> (the ones connecting to the desired end users). To do this, the optical fibre connectors <NUM> terminating the second ends <NUM> of the selected patch cords <NUM> will be disengaged from the respective seats <NUM> of the connector holder <NUM> wherein they are temporaly parked, to be connected to the connectors of the pigtails of the external communication network <NUM> (e.g. by means of suitable adapters, not shown, as part of the accessories of the external communication network installed into the free space <NUM>).

The connector holder <NUM> thus acts as a temporary parking area for the optical fibre connectors <NUM> terminating the second ends <NUM> of the selected patch cords <NUM>.

Accordingly, the management of optical fibre cabling and connections in the second area <NUM> is simpliflied. Indeed, different telecommunication operators willing to connect their external telecommunication networks <NUM> to end users of the user network <NUM>, simply have to make a connection of their cabling to the appropriate second end connectors <NUM> of the patch cords <NUM> (which are already tidily installed in the cabinet <NUM>), after extracting them from the relevant seats <NUM> of the connector holder <NUM> (e.g. in case of a first connection to the end users) or after disconnecting them from the cabling of a previous telecommunication operator (in case the end users switch from one operator to another). In order to facilitate identification of the patch cord <NUM> linking to a desired end user, the solution disclosed with reference to the <FIG>, wherein the second (front) sides <NUM> of seats <NUM> are closed by means of transparent caps <NUM>, can advantageously be used.

Claim 1:
Outdoor telecommunications cabinet (<NUM>) for connecting an external communication network (<NUM>) to a user network (<NUM>), made of a single piece case (<NUM>) comprising:
- a first area (<NUM>) associated with a first closure door (<NUM>), housing:
• a plurality of optic adapters (<NUM>) having opposite first (<NUM>) and second sides;
• a corresponding plurality of connecting optical fibres (<NUM>) for connection to optical fibres of the user network (<NUM>), the connecting optical fibres (<NUM>) having opposite free ends and terminated ends, terminated with respective optical fibre connectors (<NUM>) that are respectively engaged with the first sides (<NUM>) of the adapters (<NUM>),
characterized in further comprising:
• a corresponding plurality of optical fibre patch cords (<NUM>) having opposite first and second (<NUM>) ends terminated with respective optical fibre connectors (<NUM>), the optical fibre connectors terminating the first ends being respectively engaged with the second sides of the adapters (<NUM>); and
- a second area (<NUM>) associated with a second closure door (<NUM>), housing:
• a connector holder (<NUM>) having a plurality of seats (<NUM>) adapted to temporaly hold the optical fibre connectors (<NUM>) terminating the second ends (<NUM>) of the patch cords (<NUM>),
• a space (<NUM>) adapted to house, after installation on site of the cabinet (<NUM>), fibre optic cabling and accessories for connection to the external communication network (<NUM>),
• the connector holder (<NUM>) acting as a temporary parking area for the optical fibre connectors (<NUM>) terminating the second ends (<NUM>) of the patch cords (<NUM>), waiting to be connected to said optical fibre cabling and/or accessories for connection to the external communication network (<NUM>).