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Prysmian Ecoslim™ cable and duct system: up to 90% recycled plastic & record reduced diameter

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Prysmian’s efficient, sustainable solution meets today’s FTTx challenges, such as limited installation space, expanding volumes, and a need for higher performance with lower environmental impact. By using Prysmian’s Sirocco HD and Sirocco Extreme cables (up to 864 fibres) and small-diameter Easenet microducts, Ecoslim reduces plastic use and makes network installation more sustainable and efficient.

Easenet microducts are made of up to 90% reclaimed HDPE. The result: up to 50% less virgin plastics usage than conventional ducts and up to 25% smaller diameter. Compared to traditional 14/10 mm diameter microducts with a larger fibre cable, Ecoslim™ is an undisputed champion in reducing CO2 emissions. Moreover, Ecoslim™ is one of the first optical network components that comes with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), for an independent comparison with conventional networks, proving up to 50% CO2 reduction along the value chain.

The reduced diameters allow micro trenching and avoid wide trenches which are usually required for high volume of ducts, which is especially beneficial in overcrowded areas. This results in less civil works and reduction of spoil by 50%.

“Network owners move towards shifting the task for greener networks to suppliers and installers, and Prysmian Group is ready to answer this challenge with Ecoslim™”, states Thomas Zambon, Telecom Sales Director for North Europe at Prysmian Group, “The solution shows stronger performance and efficiency, and with record fibre density of Sirocco HD or Sirocco Extreme cables allows network owners and providers to transmit even more data through the available duct infrastructure.”

Ecoslim cables and ducts can be applied within existing Programmes of Requirements during the design phase, without requiring changes or additional design costs. In deployments in the Netherlands, 14/10mm ducts were recently replaced with smaller diameter 10/7mm ducts for installation of Sirocco HD and Sirocco Extreme cables with up to 192 fibres. Because longer lengths of cable and ducts can be stored on each drum, a reduction of up to 60% in the number of drums was realised, reducing the number of truckloads and warehouse space requirements by 60%. Since 2020 when the first pilot with the Dutch operator KPN proved to be successful, together with Open Dutch Fiber (ODF) more than 300.000 houses have been connected. Growing interest in the Scandinavian countries is evident, too, showing the world’s ever-increasing demand for sustainable information provided by innovative solutions.

"The smaller, more flexible cables and tubes reduce strain on the often full cable routes," says Erik van den Oever, Telecoms commercial director at Prysmian Group. "In addition, they are easier to install, and spare tubes can be reused. Stripping and splicing take no longer than with ‘regular’ cable. During digging, these newer cables should also be less prone to damage than existing cable. Traditional cabling with its thicker, less flexible jacket needed much more room than the newer thinner cables, which could very closely follow the contours of the duct ."

Proven reduction in trenching, especially near CO with high volumes of ducts.

Direct savings on material investment 3-4%.

Smaller duct diameter ⤍ increased length per drum.

  • Drum reduction > 60%
  • Reduced delivery transports
  • Reduced warehouse capacity (M2)
  • Reduced cutting losses up to 4%
  • Reduced movements at the work site