Blowing
Applied in tubes, ducts, trays, blocks, tunnels, collecting channels, with no risk of rodent attacks. Also applied for aerial installation between supports and buildings on external strength members or using the winding method.
Ducting
Applied in ducts, trays, blocks, tunnels, collecting channels, with a risk of rodent attacks.
Direct Buried
Applied in harsh environments with potential mechanical impact: in all ground types, swamps and harsh rivers.
Submarine
Applied in sea areas (coastal shelf and deep-sea), on navigable rivers, in lakes and water storage basins, in harsh environments, in bogs and unnavigable rivers.
Figure 8
Applied for aerial installations: on power lines, lamp posts, between buildings and constructions. Suitable for aerial installation on transmission equipment and power facilities in dielectric package.
Aerial
Applied for aerial installation on distribution and high voltage power lines, as well as railway catenary.
Indoor
Applied inside buildings (including vertical runs), in trays, channels, on outer sides of buildings, as well as in duct, in tubes and blocks. Suitable for blowing-in into protecting polyethylene tubes.
Drop
Applied for aerial installation on transmission towers, lamp posts, between buildings and constructions.
OPGW/Ground Wire
Applied in the construction of fiber-optic link on overhead transmission lines of 35 kV and more.
Fire Rated
Used for stationary installation when the optical fiber needs extra protection from mechanical damages.
Specialty Cable
For fiber optic monitoring systems.
Materials
18 November 2025
Building today’s digital network is as complex and ambitious as constructing modern highways or bridges. A vivid example is the large-scale TEA NEXT project, which includes a unique operation in the Perm region: the trenchless installation of a fiber-optic cable beneath the bed of the Kama River, one of Russia’s largest waterways. This task demands not only enormous resources, but also exceptional engineering precision.
A Special Mission Close to Home
For Incab, this project stage is much more than a technical milestone. It is work happening just a few dozen kilometers from our plant – here in the region where we live and operate. Watching the “construction project of the century” take shape across our fields, forests, and even beneath our great river brings both a heightened sense of responsibility and immense pride.
TEA NEXT: A Continental-Scale Initiative
TEA NEXT (Trans-Eurasian fiber-optic communication line) is a next-generation telecommunications project implemented by Atlas LLC in partnership with Rostelecom PJSC. Its goal is to create a high-speed, high-capacity link between Europe and Asia – a digital “Silk Road” that offers the shortest, lowest-latency alternative to submarine routes.
Key parameters of the project:
• Route Length: approx. 11,700 km across 27 regions of Russia.
• Major Hubs: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, with access to China and Mongolia.
• Technology: modern G.654 and G.652 optical fibers providing high capacity over long distances.
• Current Status: the first two phases (Latvian border – Torzhok and Moscow – St. Petersburg) are commissioned; almost 6,000 km of cable has been laid for Phase 3 (Torzhok – Mongolian border). Full commissioning of the terrestrial route is planned for 2026.
A Unique Challenge in the Perm Krai
The Kama River – the largest waterway along the local section of the TEA NEXT route —posed a major technological challenge. To preserve the river’s ecosystem and ensure stable long-term operation, engineers chose horizontal directional drilling (HDD) instead of trenching along the riverbed.
We are especially proud that the optical cable used for this crossing was manufactured in Perm.
Environmental Responsibility and Biodiversity Protection
In parallel with construction, the project included an environmental initiative to support the Kama River basin’s biodiversity. As part of the compensation measures for potential impact on aquatic resources, around 60,000 juvenile sterlet, a species listed in the Red Book of Russia, were released into the Votkinsk Reservoir.
Such measures reflect a responsible, sustainable approach to major infrastructure development and help ensure the long-term health of the river ecosystem.
Technical Details: From Drilling to Cable Pulling
Work at the Kama site began in early summer. Creating the pilot well alone took more than 10 months, excluding preparatory stages. The full river crossing exceeded 3 km, completed in four separate drillings later joined with welded couplings. The most challenging single section—over 1,300 meters—passed directly beneath the river channel.
1. Foundation and Start of Drilling
A special 2-meter-deep foundation was built to stabilize the HDD rig, which was welded to the base to ensure absolute directional accuracy.
A horizontal drilling rig with 1070 kN pulling force and 45,000 N·m maximum torque was used to penetrate complex soils.
2. Drilling Challenges and Complex Geology
Drilling was performed using sequentially connected drill pipes. Drilling fluid—water with special additives—was pumped under pressure to cool the tool, loosen the soil, and stabilize the well.
The longest passage under the river presented multiple challenges:
• After the first 400 meters, the drill bit required replacement, necessitating full removal and reassembly of the 400-meter drill string.
• Sections of gravel and boulders caused rapid wear of high-strength bits.
• Maintaining well stability proved difficult: bentonite washed out of the gravel, causing collapses.
Only on the fifth attempt, after selecting optimal bentonite and polymer additives, were engineers able to achieve stable well walls and successful drilling.
3. Reaming and Casing Installation
Once the pilot well reached its full length, reverse pulling began. The drill string was withdrawn while pulling in an expander that enlarged the well to the required diameter. Behind the expander, a heavy steel casing was pulled in—later used to house the fiber-optic cable.
4. Final Stage: Pulling the Cable to the Opposite Bank
After the casing was successfully installed beneath the riverbed, the final stage began:
• A cable pusher on the drilling-rig side fed the optical cable into the casing.
• A powerful winch installed on the opposite bank pulled a pre-installed towing cable.
• The towing cable was attached to the optical cable with protective fittings.
• Controlled, slow pulling ensured consistent tension across the entire 1,300-meter section, preventing cable damage.
Once installed, the cable was connected to the existing trunk line, followed by mandatory measurements and testing.
A Milestone for the Region and the Country
This engineering achievement on the Kama River is more than a part of a major construction project. It symbolizes the intersection of advanced digital technologies with the industrial strength of the Perm Krai — an important contribution to the country’s growing digital infrastructure.
And for us at Incab, it is a source of deep pride: a demonstration that our home region is an essential part of the global digital future.
