Abstract: This disclosure provides a method of deploying an optical fiber cable in a telecommunications network, the optical fiber cable being configured to connect a first optical fiber interface unit in the telecommunications network and a second optical fiber interface unit in a dwelling.

Abstract: A method of deploying an optical fiber cable in a telecommunications network, the optical fiber cable being configured to connect a first optical fiber interface unit in the telecommunications network and a second optical fiber interface unit in a dwelling, is disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method of deploying an optical fiber cable in a telecommunications network, the optical fiber cable being configured to connect a first optical fiber interface unit in the telecommunications network and a second optical fiber interface unit in a dwelling.

Abstract: A variable capacitor comprising: a first elongate member comprising a first electrically conductive portion positioned towards a first distal end of the first elongate member and a second electrically conductive portion positioned towards a second distal end of the first elongate member, wherein the first elongate member is configured to pivot on a first fulcrum positioned between the first and second electrically conductive portions, wherein a first distance between the first fulcrum and the first electrically conductive portion of the first elongate member is different to a second distance between the first fulcrum and the second electrically conductive portion of the first elongate member; a second elongate member comprising a first electrically conductive portion positioned towards a first distal end of the second elongate member and a second electrically conductive portion positioned towards a second distal end of the second elongate member, wherein: one of the first and second elongate members is a cath

Abstract: This invention provides a method of operating a controller for controlling a performance test in one or more access networks, wherein a first access network of the one or more access networks includes a first access node, a first plurality of network nodes and a first communications medium, and each network node of the first plurality of network nodes is connected to the first access node by the first communications medium such that the first communications medium is shared by the first plurality of nodes, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining data identifying the first communications medium of a first network node of the first plurality of network nodes; determining that a count of concurrent performance tests of the first communications medium is less than a first threshold; and in response to the determination, causing initiation of a first performance test of the first communications medium in which the first network node is a participant of the first performance test.

Abstract: A communications router (6) is provided with an add-on device (7) for diverting data traffic over a replacement connection (70, 80) when a primary connection route (60) meets a failover criterion. Traffic addressed to an allocated network address associated with the primary connection (60) is diverted to a network termination of the replacement connection (70) by a routing function (31) if the replacement connection (70) has been authenticated by an authentication system (35). Authentication is provided by setting up an association between the internet IP address of the router (6) when addressed through the link (60), and a network identity of the add-in unit (7).

Abstract: This disclosure provides a network node, and a method of operating the network node, having one or more communications interfaces connectable to a first communications network and to a second communications network, the method including the network node accessing a service using the first communications network; analyzing data relating to the first communications network to identify a plurality of fault-indicative events; determining a rate of the plurality of fault-indicative events per unit time; and the network node accessing the service using the second communications network in response to a first trigger, wherein the first trigger is based on the rate of the plurality of fault-indicative events per unit time.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a network node, and a method of operating the network node, having one or more communications interfaces connectable to a first communications network and to a second communications network, the method including the network node accessing a service using the first communications network; analyzing data relating to the first communications network to identify a plurality of fault-indicative events; determining a rate of the plurality of fault-indicative events per unit time; and the network node accessing the service using the second communications network in response to a first trigger, wherein the first trigger is based on the rate of the plurality of fault-indicative events per unit time.

Abstract: A communications router (6) is provided with an add-on device (7) for diverting data traffic over a replacement connection (70, 80) when a primary connection route (60) meets a failover criterion. Traffic addressed to an allocated network address associated with the primary connection (60) is diverted to a network termination of the replacement connection (70) by a routing function (31) if the replacement connection (70) has been authenticated by an authentication system (35). Authentication is provided by setting up an association between the internet IP address of the router (6) when addressed through the link (60), and a network identity of the add-in unit (7).