The History and Future of OPGW Fiber Optic Cable

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The advent of Optical Fiber Grounding Wire or OPGW revolutionized the electrical as well as the telecommunications industry as it opened the doors for greater efficiency and faster communications. The OPGW fiber optic cable started gaining popularity in the 1980s and is still the preferred grounding wire in many places. The start of the new century saw a boom in the use of OPGW cables and Asia emerged as the largest market for these cables. The success of OPGW (Optical Ground wire cables) cables is due to the fact that these cables offer dual functionality. The primary use of OPGW is that of a grounding cable which shields the overhead lines from lightning and the ability to use the same cable for transmitting data over long distances made it an instant hit with the transmission companies as well as telecom companies. The transmission companies can use these cables for their own need of transmitting data through a secure channel amongst its offices at different locations and they could also lease it out or sell it to telecom companies and generate extra revenue.

The only hurdle which comes in way of leasing or selling the fiber optic line to telecom carriers is the right of way. If the RoW was taken for electrical transmission line then the transmission company cannot sell or lease the same line for other services; this can only be made possible if a separate RoW is taken for telecom or data transfer use. The OPGW fiber optic cable finds favor with the transmission companies just because it provides them with an opportunity to earn extra money from the infrastructure they set up for transmission of electricity. Most of the companies which are in the business of transmission line construction use OPGW cables for grounding. Installation of the OPGW cables is costlier and complex than that of the traditional all metal grounding cables thus we find these cables only in new transmission line constructions and not on the old ones.

Let’s take a look at the benefits for a telecom company which decides to use the OPGW cables of a transmission company.

• The telecom company does not have to invest time and money on installation of fiber optic line
•  Saves cost of labor and machinery for laying underground cables
• Telecom companies can further their reach to areas which were inaccessible due to lack of infrastructure
• Faster and safer transmission of voice and data
• Easy fault detection on overhead lines as compared to the underground cables

The transmission companies are trying their best to project the OPGW (Optical Ground wire cables) fiber optic cable as the best solution to the needs of telecom companies in terms of a high-speed secure way of transmitting data, video, and voice. The future of OPGW cables is quite bright as the companies would certainly find more uses of these cables in near future and the growth of telecom industry is bound to increase the demand for these cables in future. Advancement in technology means that we can possibly see much-improved versions of these cables in future which could further enhance the services. The manufacturers are also striving hard to come up with a wider range of products to ensure that they can fulfill the needs of all kinds of telecom and electricity distribution companies. It is only through a constant evaluation of the products and the global standards that they can get to know the scope of improvement in each product they offer. The possibilities for the manufacturers and telecom companies are endless if they can tap the true potential of this excellent product.

by

Jaspreet 

in

Technology

7 Cool Projects Around the World Made by Personal 3D Printer

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      During the last years, numerous innovative technological cools have come into our lives. Starting from the most recent smartphone models, which allow us to work, talk and take pictures basically thanks to the same device, there are plenty of innovative options out there to make your life easier. 3d printers are one of those latest innovations that could help you out with numerous tasks and projects. Numerous designers and architects around the world have used this tool to successfully implement their ultimate dreams. Let's give a look at some of the coolest 3d projects from around the world.

     1. 3D printed car

You might be surprised to read about this one, but in 2014, the first vehicle printed out thanks to 3d printing tools, came out. It literally blew everyones mind. Although the process took some time (but not as much as you can imagine), this was basically considered as one of the breakthroughs in the car industry. The car was 3d printed in about 44 hours and it looks like other plans to print out similar cars are on the way.

      2. 3D printed Van Gogh ear

If you've never been to a Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam or you are not into Van Gogh's art, you might still know that Van Gogh cut off his ear at a certain point of his life. Well, apparently, a contemporary artist teamed up with some scientists to 3d print Van Gogh's ear!

     3. 3D printed castle

Are you a lucky owner of a large backyard? You may want to know this. A large 3d printer has been used to print out a full-sized castle. A perfect setting for a ceremony or just a way to complete your kids playground, this 3d printed is hard not to notice.

     4. 3D printed organs

One of the latest innovations introduced in medicine, is 3d printing. Prominent researchers from around the world have already used 3d printers to print out 3d human organs, including ears or kidneys, and other types of humans tissues. Although, we are still at the early stages and further tests are needed, in the next future, 3d printed organs and tissues may be used for transplantation, considering the lack of suitable organs for many of those in need on trasplant.

     5. 3D printed office building

If you were already surprised by 3d printed cars or castle, then this next project will certainly leave you speechless. We are actually talking about an office building printed thanks to a 3D printer. This five storey gem was printed in sections, but the result is quite impressive.

    6. 3D printed guitar

3D printers can be used in a variety of fields and are currently used by music industry as well. In fact, recently, the first 3d printed guitar has been created. Apart from making the first real working musical instruments, this opens up new opportunities who would like to replicate their idol's instruments, not only guitars, but flutes and all sorts of other music instruments.

    7. 3D printed objects in space

In this case, things have already moved to a new level, or to be more precise to space area. In a nutshell, a 3d printer has already travelled in space on board of a NASA rocket. Isn't it impressive? Who knows, how many great and useful 3d objects can be printed out while travelling around the earth.

As you can see, the options of cool projects you can work on thanks to a personal 3d printer are numerous and almost endless. All you have to do is just have to use your own immagination!

by

YuliyaWander

in

Technology

5 Simple Ways to Improve Customer Retention

The average business loses 10 to 15 percent of its customers each year, which can usually only be countered by finding new customers to make up for that lost income. It’s become a top goal for many companies to reduce those exit rates because that can save a business tremendous time and effort. Since loyal customers are more likely to tell their friends and associates about a brand they believe in, nurturing these customers can help you build your own team of brand ambassadors. But how do you improve retention rates without increasing your staff? Here are a few tips to help.

Become a Trusted Advisor

Many customer-business relationships come from a consulting type of setup. In many instances this means that the customer feels free to call with any questions or concerns. This also means that the business’s team has the expertise necessary to offer ongoing guidance. If a business can work on developing trust with its clients, it will be rewarded with long-term loyalty from a higher percentage of those customers.

Maintain a Comprehensive Database

As your business grows, it will gradually become less and less easy to keep up with every customer. A customer relationship management (CRM) system is perhaps the most dependable way to help you capture purchase histories and personal tidbits on every customer who buys from you. Even a small touch like remembering a customer’s birthday when he calls can make a big difference in creating more return business.

Measure and Correct

Before you can improve retention rates, it’s important to first understand what they are. Learn to monitor and calculate retention rates and use that information to make positive changes. You may be lucky enough to learn that your business loses very few customers each year, which frees you to focus on other things. Even with those few customers, however, you can likely get to the heart of why they’re leaving. Consider sending surveys to customers who have chosen not to continue to do business with you and use those results to improve. This will help you evolve as a business.

Offer a Free Trial

A certain percentage of customers will either cancel or ask for a refund after trying a product or service. To keep churn rates low, however, some brands have found that free trials are a great option, especially for subscription-based services. A free trial gives customers the opportunity to try out a product or service and decide if it’s the right fit before committing to buy. If you have additional services that you can add-on to what a customer has already tried using, then this is your chance to toss those in for free too. Such methods ensure that those customers who do choose to stay on are already sold on the product.

Follow Up

Many businesses put all of their efforts into making the sale, moving on to the next sale once the purchase is complete. This completely disregards the very real existence of buyer’s remorse. Instead of moving on, businesses should follow up with the customer in the weeks following the sale to see if there’s any way they can help. This will show that you’re a business that cares, which means that even if the customer isn’t happy with the item they bought from you, they’ll be more likely to buy something else from you in the future.

Businesses will always see at least a small amount of customer turnover, but the more long-term customers they can win over, the better. If your business wants to reduce its customer attrition, good customer service is the best way to start.

How to Start a Computer Repair Business

There are very few people that don't have computers in this day and age—which means that having certain technical skills, such as the ability to repair or build computers, can be incredibly handy. If you happen to possess such a rare set of skills, then you may be thinking about starting a computer repair business. However, it's important to understand that it takes a lot of work to build a computer repair business from the ground up, which is why you may want to consider investing in a franchise instead.

Computer Repair Startups vs. Computer Repair Franchises

If your want to own and operate a computer repair business, then you've got two options—you can start your own computer repair shop and build it from the ground up, or your become a franchise and become part of a major brand.

Big brands in the computer repair industry are selling the rights to operate under their name to other entrepreneurs. These computer repair franchise opportunities are typically a safer investment from a business point of view. This is because you'll be working with an already established brand—and technically, you won't even have to have any repair skills yourself. You can focus solely on the management side. Of course, you'll have to undergo training to get a basic understanding of the computer repair services you'll be offering, but most companies will offer this to new owners.

However, if you're considering building your own computer repair business, then you'll most likely have to take a much different route to doing so.

Building Your Own Computer Repair Business

The following are some of the tips you'll want to keep in mind when planning your own computer repair business.

• Identify your strengths and weaknesses - You may have excellent technical skills, but you may lack in business acumen. Or, perhaps you have both, but you lack social skills. All three of these are extremely important when it comes to running your own business. Knowing where your strengths lie ahead of time will allow you to focus on those while knowing what your weaknesses are will give you a chance to figure out how to overcome them.
• Determine who your customer base is - Computer repair is a very broad service. Having a niche makes it easier to corner that part of the market. For example, you could focus on repairing computer systems for local businesses. Or you could focus on repairing Apple computers. By emphasizing a specialty service, it will make marketing and sales a lot easier.
• Set your rates properly - If your rates are too high, you'll scare away potential customers. But if they're too low, you may not make enough money. Don't set them low in order to hook new customers either. Once you try to raise those rates, you'll risk losing those customers as well as risk hurting your reputation. Do your research to determine the proper value of your services.
• Market your business - Running a few ads in the local paper isn't going to cut it. As a startup, you need to invest in marketing to help increase awareness of your business. Focus on digital marketing by setting up a website, creating a social media presence, creating valuable content enriched by SEO keywords and engaging with your customers online. Keep in mind that marketing is something that has to be done on a daily basis for it to be effective.
• Gather inventory - As a computer repair service, you may want to sell used computers or parts. You'll also want plenty of replacement components that can be used for computer repairs. If you have a specialized service, it will be easier to keep an inventory of the parts you might need. If your inventory is lacking, computer repairs could end up taking a while since you'll have to wait around for parts that you've had to order from other sources.
• Hire the right staff - You're going to need employees that are both computer savvy and sociable. An employee that can repair any type of computer isn't going to very valuable if they are rude to your customers, after all. Your business could sink or swim based on your staff.

There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to opening up your own computer repair business. While it's certainly possible, many independent computer repair shops end up failing because their owners are unable to juggle all of these responsibilities effectively. If you want to run a computer repair service, but you don't want the risk involved with building one from the ground up, consider investing in a computer repair franchise instead.

By : https://www.articlecube.com/brian-mase
Source : https://www.articlecube.com/how-start-computer-repair-business

5 Industries You Should Invest in Now!

Investing in a small business or franchise—or even buying stocks in a company—is a smart way to increase your money. Investing in a business as the owner or a stockholder can result in big returns if the opportunity is right. There is always some level of risk with an investment, so how do you choose where to invest your money?

The good news is that there are a number of industries that are consistently making profits and increasing in size. There is no such thing as a sure thing in investing, but some of these lucrative industries are as close as you can get.

#1 Promotional Products

This $20 billion industry is an integral part of the business-to-business (B2B) market. Selling to other businesses is a great way to make money because businesses invest in products and services that help their customers.

The promotional products industry includes a variety of items that companies can use as rewards and incentives, apparel and uniforms, and swag for customers. Some of the offerings in the promotional products industry include:

Apparel
Bags and totes
Trophies
Corporate gifts and service awards
Water bottles
Pens
Tools
Technology
Lanyards
These are just some of the products that a promotional marketing company may sell to its B2B customers.

Opportunities in this field are varied. There are franchise opportunities with established businesses, or you can start your own business. You can even invest in the stock of a business in this huge industry.

#2 Real Estate

Across the world, some of the most wealthy people made their fortunes in real estate. Buying and selling property, primarily in urban areas, can be a real money maker. According to Forbes, 9% of the world's billionaires earned their fortunes buying and selling real estate.

There are a number of ways to profit in the real estate industry. Flipping properties, though difficult, can be incredibly lucrative for someone who knows what they are doing. Some people become real estate agents and make commissions on every home they sell. Still others invest in a rental property or purchase entire complexes to sell or rent.

#3 Finance and Investments

It seems like a no brainer that working in finance is a great way to accumulate wealth. Experts in finance advise others on how to manage and grow their money, so they have the knowledge to help their own finances.

Another piece of this industry involves buying and selling stocks. Learning the ins and outs of the stock market is like learning a different language, but it has proven to be incredibly profitable. Companies that deal in finance and investments make their owners wealthy by making the clients wealthy.

Opportunities in finance and investments can be as simple as buying and selling stocks on your own, investing in a mutual fund or hedge fund company's stock, or becoming a financial advisor for a career.

#4 Technology

Technology is an important part of everyday life, and new technology seems to be hitting the markets every day. Investing in technology does not mean you have to have a great idea for the next big thing. You can invest in the technology industry by buying stocks in an existing company or investing in someone else's good idea.

#5 Food and Dining

It is no secret that Americans love to eat, so the food and dining industry is a good one to invest in. Investment opportunities in this industry are many and varied, including everything from fast food to fine dining.

The restaurant industry is tough to break into, but it can prove to be extremely profitable when it works. Some savvy entrepreneurs start their own restaurants and others buy franchises of existing successes. Either way, putting money into the food and dining industry can be a real moneymaker.

When you are considering investing your hard earned money, make sure to do thorough research on the industry in which you are investing. Always be on the lookout for opportunities that fit your needs, and you can invest in some profitable enterprises.

By : https://www.articlecube.com/brian-mase
Source : https://www.articlecube.com/5-industries-you-should-invest-now