Level 2 specification
NR/L2/TEL/30179
Design of Fibre Distribution Systems and Fibre End-User Connections
Issue 2, 05 September 2026 · Fibre design
What the standard is for: how end users are connected to NR's fibre without harming trunk capacity. Issue 2 note: commercial demand is now long-haul fibre, so new FIPs and FATs are not expected to be deployed — 30179 is for upkeep of, and designs interfacing with, existing FIP/FAT assets (e.g. the TPI area), and most of its design rules are now worded as guidance (should) rather than mandatory (shall)
Clause map — what each clause deals with
| 1 | Purpose | What the standard is for: how end users are connected to NR's fibre without harming trunk capacity. Issue 2 note: commercial demand is now long-haul fibre, so new FIPs and FATs are not expected to be deployed — 30179 is for upkeep of, and designs interfacing with, existing FIP/FAT assets (e.g. the TPI area), and most of its design rules are now worded as guidance (should) rather than mandatory (shall) |
| 2 | Scope | Who it applies to: anyone designing or building NTPs, distribution systems or end-user fibre connections |
| 3 | Accountable and Responsible Roles | Accountable and responsible roles for competent design and survey |
| 4 | Definitions and Abbreviations | Abbreviations and definitions (FIP, FAT, NTP, S-ODF; HCFC now defined as 288 fibres or more, with 432 the default trunk cable) |
| 5.1 | General | Overview of NR's fibre asset — FTN and HCFC |
| 5.2 | Ancillary Information | Background on why the 24-fibre FTN cannot carry everything |
| 6.1 | HCFC Architecture | How the HCFC trunk architecture is meant to be exploited by distribution systems |
| 6.2 | Distribution Systems Architecture | When a distribution system is used versus a direct connection at a joint or S-ODF |
| 7.1 | General | The principle that end-user fibres are not fusion-spliced to trunk, spur or distribution cables — demountable connections (NTP, pluggable, test point) instead; guidance wording since Issue 2 |
| 7.2.1 | General | Fibre Interface Points — the pluggable connection between end user and trunk |
| 7.2.2 | FATs | Fibre Access Terminals for external end-user connections |
| 8.1 | General | What a distribution system consists of — cables between a joint/S-ODF and the NTPs |
| 8.2.1 | General | When a direct connection is used instead of a spur or distribution cable |
| 8.2.2 | Spur Cables | Spur cables — where they are laid and what they connect into |
| 8.2.3 | Distribution cables | Distribution cables — connected at both ends into existing joints/ODFs |
| 8.3 | Network Termination Points (NTPs) | Network Termination Points — the demarcation at the end of NR's fibre |
| 8.5 | Guidance on Conversion of a Joint to a S-ODF | Converting a congested joint into an S-ODF |