Microtrenching the Last Mile of Fiber

Featured in: ForConstructionPros

New equipment innovations exceed challenges of an evolving market

By Steve Seabolt, Ditch Witch product manager, Heavy-Duty Tractors

High-speed internet has grown in popularity. And now, the original focus of routing fiber to the home has expanded to encompass routing fiber to everything. As more neighborhoods, businesses and government facilities demand fiber connections, the equipment responsible for deployment has evolved. Equipment manufacturers have taken contractor and operator feedback to heart, innovating solutions to better fit the growing needs of the industry.

Traditionally, those product innovations were focused on long-haul equipment for installation routes between cities and towns, and sometimes backbone lines. Manufacturers focused on plows for fast and efficient installation in areas with few surface or underground obstructions. Horizontal directional drills were also a focal point, perfecting a solution for jobsites with rough terrain, wooded areas or water crossings.

However, when it came to installation between the backbone and premise—known as the last mile—contractors would often use compact plows and drills better suited for the other applications. Equipment innovations specifically designed for effective installation in the “last mile” are much more common today. For example, microtrenchers are increasingly more popular on these jobsites. And new innovations in today’s microtrenchers make them a more cost-effective, effective solution for the last mile.

Navigating Utilities 

What’s beneath the surface is a major concern for contractors connecting fiber to a premise. Once in a sprawling city or newer, residential town, they are challenged to navigate a patchwork of buried utilities, as well as the natural ground obstacles. The mix of man-made and natural terrain makes trenching and drilling a complicated task, which has the potential to decrease productivity while trying to safely operate around existing obstructions and utilities.

Cutting the time and costs associated during the last mile, microtrenchers are designed to trench shallow enough to reduce the likelihood of interference with most existing utilities. With cutting depths that range up to 16 inches, and widths between 0.375 to 2 inches, these narrow, small trenches enable contractors to install fiber shallower than other utilities with minimal disruption to the surrounding infrastructure. 

Navigating neighborhoods and business parks has also been a concern for contractors – these areas are not often built in straight, easily navigable lines. Microtrenchers provide more maneuverability by enabling operators to efficiently cut on a street corner or around a cul-de-sac. The Ditch Witch MT16, for instance, can swing up to 6 degrees in each direction. 

Quick, Clean Cuts 

Traditional methods of installing fiber in the last mile included additional costs that contractors were hesitant to accept, such as restoration costs. Trenching through concrete or removing slabs involved increased expenses to return the area to normal. And, when operating in a highly trafficked area, any work done to infrastructure also impacted the people who use it. A city street, for instance, must be closed to pedestrians for the length of a project. 

The shallow and thin trenches of a microtrencher can be created in a single, quick pass, slicing the cost-per-foot on a job and minimizing ground disruptions. Design features – like a floating saw shroud that follows the ground contour with contact pressure – help to produce a sharper-edged cut while also cleaning out spoils. Hydraulic accumulators also provide a major benefit by maintaining constant pressure on the saw frame. 

Blade Longevity 

The type of pavement a contractor is working with can negatively impact the cost-per-foot on a job—asphalt and concrete cause different rates of wear. For example, harder or more abrasive materials wear blades or teeth quickly, slowing the cutting process and reducing productivity. 

Familiarity with different ground conditions can help a contractor select the best saw blade for the jobsite. The Ditch Witch factory, for instance, offers a complete lineup of saw blades ranging from standard carbide-tipped blades to the Ditch Witch-exclusive PDC Fiberblade™ with diamond-embedded carbide. These exclusive saw blades can last up to 10 times longer than standard blades in certain conditions. 

Case in point: Corbel Communications Industries has found significant savings using a Ditch Witch microtrencher with the exclusive PDC Fiberblade. Due to the blade’s longevity, the company’s workers can trench tens of thousands of feet per blade. In the past, they could go only around 100 feet before maintenance was required. 

Innovations to Meet Future Demand

The equipment available to contractors and operators for the last mile of fiber deployment is always evolving. By becoming more familiar with the evolution of fiber deployment and various installation methods like microtrenching, and by listening to direct contractor feedback, innovations will continue to meet the demand for fiber while avoiding infrastructure and unnecessary expenses.

HYDRAULIC BREAKER
Used for construction and demolition, our breakers can be used to break up asphalt, concrete or even clay. The hydraulic hammer is perfect for any small or medium job you might have. More up-time in the field is always the goal, and with only two moving parts and a few seals, there’s no reason for down-time.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

ROCK SAW

Best suited for irrigation and fiber installation, the Rock Saw attachment can effortlessly cut through rock, concrete, and other tough materials with unmatched precision. 

Compatible Models

SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

BACKHOE
Easily move materials for rebuilds, new construction, footings, utility repairs and more with this compact and versatile attachment.
Compatible Models

SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

STUMP GRINDERS
Featuring a heavy-duty boom design, powerful stump grinding attachments quickly shred stumps down to nothing. Easy maneuvering from stump to stump and increased visibility turns more ground stumps into more profit.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

MULTITASK TOOL
Your multipurpose tool for the ultimate multi-tasker is here. Engineered to grab tight to heavy materials and move them with ease and precision, the multi-task tool is your go-to for heavy applications. Easy to operate with convenient, functional levers.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

CORE DRILL
With the MC-450 coring attachment, utility maintenance is simple and less disruptive. Featuring intuitive controls and an integrated water tank, the MC-450 is the perfect choice for quick cuts and a more productive coring process. A fully adjustable 0 to 280 rpm speed allows for enhanced control and greater productivity.
Compatible Models

SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

SOIL CULTIVATOR
Prepare food plots, gardens, and landscaping projects with a soil cultivator. It gets land ready by stirring organic material back in the soil for a healthier, more stable lawn. Buries the biggest of rocks for a looser topsoil.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

BLADES
Whether you’re looking to increase dump height or digging depth, attaching a backfill blade is an easy way to save manpower on your jobsite while working with precision and timeliness. Available in various widths.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

AUGER DRIVER
Ideal for landscaping and tree care, an auger attachment will expedite hole creation and allow operators to quickly plant trees or install fence posts than if they were hand-digging or relying on a hand-held auger. Available in 6" to 30" diameters.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

TILLER
Tough and effective tillers prepare your garden by breaking up tough soil and removing unwanted weeds. Available in 4' width.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

GRAPPLES
Tree grapples come with 48" or 57" openings to efficiently remove logs and debris from the jobsite. It has an excavator style boom design with a powder coat finish and a cylinder lock for increased safety. Brush grapples available with a gap opening of 29" and widths of 42" or 54".
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

CARRY ALL LEVELER
One of our most simple yet versatile attachments, the Carry-All Leveler is perfect for carrying bulky material, leveling soil and adding a flat, smooth finish to your project. Available in 49" width.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

BUCKETS
Turn one machine into a multi-functional workhorse with versatile Ditch Witch® SK attachments. From landscaping and hardscapes to tree care and construction-grade tasks, your stand-on skid steer can take on more than you think. We've got you covered with a variety buckets from 4-in-1 to heavy and light material buckets. Widths range from 34" to 66".
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

PALLET FORKS
Take on your heaviest loads with precision and dependability with Ditch Witch pallet forks. They easily attach to any of our skid steers and can easily accessorize with hay spikes, brick guards, and much more to add even more ROI. Available in widths ranging from 36-48.75" and lengths from 36-48".
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

MICROTRENCHER
Fiber installation and other street-located work is rapidly growing. A microtrenching attachment is key for operators looking to get into fiber installation at the street level. They cut both concrete and asphalt in controlled increments so contractors don't need to stop traffic. Maximum width options are 0.5-1.5” or 2” with maximum depths of 12” or 16”.
Compatible Models

SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

ROTO WITCH®
The Ditch Witch Roto Witch® attachment is used for short bores underneath sidewalks, driveways and other obstacles. It offers great digging performance while minimizing jobsite restoration. Compatible with numerous Ditch Witch stand-on skid steers, the Roto Witch attachment can bore and backream up to 12" (300 mm) in diameter.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

PLOW
Install fiber and other utilities quickly with a vibratory plow attachment for your skid steer. It creates less ground disruption and cleanup than traditional trenching to get the job done faster. Available in maximum depths of 14" and 24".
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

POWER RAKE
Clean, level and prep jobsites or smooth and loosen soil for sodding with a rake attachment. Most rake attachments require 10 to 14 gpm, but the higher horsepower creates even more drum torque to tear through the most demanding soil types. Width measures 4'.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

MICROTRENCHERS
Fiber installation and other street-located work is rapidly growing. A microtrenching attachment is key for operators looking to get into fiber installation at the street level. They cut both concrete and asphalt in controlled increments so contractors don't need to stop traffic. Maximum width options are 0.5-1.5” or 2” with maximum depths of 12” or 16”.
Compatible Models

SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

ROTO WITCH®
The Ditch Witch Roto Witch® attachment is used for short bores underneath sidewalks, driveways and other obstacles. It offers great digging performance while minimizing jobsite restoration. Compatible with numerous Ditch Witch stand-on skid steers, the Roto Witch attachment can bore and backream up to 12" (300 mm) in diameter.
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750

PLOWS
Install fiber and other utilities quickly with a vibratory plow attachment for your skid steer. It creates less ground disruption and cleanup than traditional trenching to get the job done faster. Available in maximum depths of 14" and 24".
Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000

TRENCHER

Stay efficient on large jobsites with a trencher attachment for your skid steer. It’s a smart alternative to large, specialized equipment for utility installation and landscaping jobs. Available in standard 6”, 8” and 12” maximum widths with maximum depths of 36", 38", 48” and 55.5”.

Compatible Models

SK600, SK800, SK900, SK1050, SK1550, SK1750, SK3000