Pros and Cons of Aerial and Underground Cabling

When installing your internet, TVs, and other important systems, you first need to think about your infrastructure. Namely, do you want aerial or underground cabling for your system? Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, but only one will work best for your business.

Aerial CablingPros and Cons of Aerial and Underground Cabling

Also known as overhead cabling, aerial cabling installs the cabling outside along a line of utility poles. This makes it so that your cable connections are kept away from any foot traffic, but there can be some risks to planting them outside.

Pros of Aerial Cabling

  • – Easily modified if you need to add more cabling
  • – Cost effective—you can use existing utility pole infrastructure
  • – Great for rural environments that lack local planning authorities like that of large towns or cities

Cons of Aerial Cabling

  • – Susceptible to bad weather including extreme winds, ice, and tree damage
  • – Takes time to install due to make-ready requirements
  • – Difficult to install in cities or towns due to local planning authorities’ guidelines

Underground Cabling

Underground cabling is the complete opposite of aerial cabling, as it’s buried under the ground in pipes or conduits rather than outside along utility poles. This can protect them from the bad weather that aerial cabling has to deal with, but it can be costly.

Pros of Underground Cabling

  • – Protected from extreme weather and damage
  • – Can lease pre-existing conduits/pipes
  • – Preferred by local planning authorities

Cons of Underground Cabling

  • – Can be expensive due to how deeply cables need to be buried
  • – Risk of cables being dislodged due to an excavation
  • – Expensive to repair

Once you decide which system is right for you, then contact Pro Link Communications. We offer both aerial and underground cabling services for your business, so give us a call at 615-236-0051.