Why choose
ACCL?

Every joint certified

Each splice and connector tested, with documented proof.

Thames Tideway Tunnel

30km of single-mode fibre for six tunnel boring machines.

Fault assessment first

Damaged joints investigated before repair is agreed.

Sun Chemical, Orpington

Fire-survival OS2 fibre linking eight water cannons.

Recent fibre work: Thames Tideway Tunnel, Legal 500, Sun Chemical

On this page

Fibre optic splicing

Fibre optic splicing and termination in London, Surrey and Kent.

ACCL joins and terminates single-mode and multi-mode fibre by fusion and mechanical splicing, and tests every joint before handover. Use this page for new links, changes and repairs to existing fibre.

Passive optical network

Fibre to the desk and across large estates.

Explore PON →

Our fibre splicing services

New links, changes and repairs.

Whether you need one emergency splice or thousands of terminations, the same engineers splice, test and label the work.

Fusion splicing

Permanent, low-loss joints for backbones and single-mode links, made with an arc fusion splicer.

Mechanical splicing

Quick joints in a precision sleeve. No power needed, so it suits urgent repairs.

Fibre repair →

Single-mode termination

OS1 and OS2 fibre for long runs, campus links and data centres.

Data centre fibre →

Multimode termination

OM3, OM4 and OM5 fibre for short, high-speed links inside a building.

Connectors and pre-terminated fibre

LC, SC, ST, FC and MTP/MPO, fitted on site or supplied as factory-tested assemblies.

Several links or a whole building?

Send us your drawings and fibre counts. We will price the whole job, testing included.

Book a Free Site Survey
Fibre patching in a comms cabinet

Fusion or mechanical?

We recommend the method at survey.

For permanent links we fusion splice: it gives the lowest loss and lasts longest. Mechanical splicing is faster and needs no power, so we use it for urgent repairs and temporary fixes.

  • Tested jointsInsertion-loss and reflectance results for every link.
  • Labelled coresCores and connectors labelled to match the results and schedules.
  • Handover recordsResults and schedules your IT team can use for warranty claims and future changes.
Fibre testing and certification →

Fibre testing and certification

How we prove every joint.

Our FIA member engineers test with calibrated equipment and give you a certification record for every link.

OTDR testing

Maps the whole fibre run and shows every splice, connector and bend by distance. Run in both directions at each relevant wavelength.

Insertion-loss testing

Measures total loss from end to end and checks each link against its loss budget.

★★★★★

Excellent60+ Google reviews
“They all have a vast knowledge on anything fibre optic cabling, copper cabling or wifi. ACCL is now the only data cabling company in our phone book.”
Andy Dawson, Google review

Fibre splicing explained

Fibre splicing, jointing and termination, in depth.

What fibre splicing is

Fibre splicing, also called fibre jointing, joins two optical fibres so light passes from one to the other with as little loss as possible. It is used to extend a cable, join a backbone to a pigtail at a patch panel, repair a break or connect sections of a long route.

A good joint is nearly invisible to the network. A poor one adds loss and reflectance, which can cause intermittent faults that are hard to trace.

How fusion splicing works

Fusion splicing melts two fibre ends together with an electric arc. The engineer strips and cleans the fibres, cleaves them to a flat end, aligns them in the splicer and fuses them. The joint is protected with a heat-shrink sleeve and stored in a splice tray.

Fusion gives the lowest loss and the most durable joint, so it is the standard for backbones, single-mode links and permanent installations.

When mechanical splicing is used

Mechanical splicing aligns the fibres inside a precision sleeve with an index-matching gel. It is quicker, needs no power and suits urgent repairs and temporary restoration. Loss and reflectance are higher than fusion, so it is less suited to permanent backbones.

Fibre termination

Termination puts a connector on the end of a fibre so it can be patched into equipment. There are three common ways:

  • Pigtail splicing: a factory-made connector on a short fibre is fusion spliced onto the installed cable. This gives the most consistent connector quality.
  • Field-terminated connectors: the connector is fitted on site. Quicker for small jobs.
  • Pre-terminated assemblies: factory-made and factory-tested cables, used for fast, low-risk installs in data centres and comms rooms.

Common connectors are LC, SC, ST, FC and MTP/MPO for high-density links. The right one is set by the equipment at each end.

Single-mode and multimode fibre

Single-mode fibre (OS1 and OS2) carries signals over long distances and is used for campus, building-to-building and carrier links. Multimode fibre (OM3, OM4 and OM5) suits shorter high-speed links inside a building and in data centres.

Fibre type, core count, connector and polish all have to match the existing system, so we confirm them at survey before quoting.

Joint protection, trays and enclosures

Every joint needs protecting. Spliced fibres are stored in splice trays inside a patch panel, cabinet enclosure or joint closure, with the right bend radius and spare fibre for future work. Outdoor and underground joints need sealed closures rated for the environment.

Testing every joint

After splicing, each link is tested. OTDR testing shows every splice, connector and bend by distance. Insertion-loss testing measures total loss against the link loss budget. A full certification uses both, and you get a report per link. See fibre testing and certification.

Fibre splicing and termination in London

We splice and terminate fibre for offices, comms rooms, data centres, campuses and industrial sites across London, Kent and the South East. Projects range from one emergency joint to thousands of terminations, including 30km of single-mode fibre for the Thames Tideway Tunnel. For damaged links, see fibre optic cable repair.

Before you book

Fibre splicing FAQs

What is the difference between fusion and mechanical splicing?

Fusion splicing melts two fibres into one permanent, very low-loss joint. It is the standard for backbones and single-mode links. Mechanical splicing lines the fibres up in a precision sleeve: it is quicker, needs no power and suits urgent repairs.

Is every splice tested?

Yes. Every joint and termination is tested, and you get insertion-loss and reflectance results for each link.

What is the difference between OTDR and insertion-loss testing?

OTDR testing maps the fibre run and locates each splice, connector and fault by distance. Insertion-loss testing measures the total loss from end to end against the link loss budget. A full certification uses both.

What is in the test report?

A certification record for every link showing insertion loss, reflectance and length, taken on calibrated equipment. It is ready for warranty claims, compliance checks and your IT handover.

Do you work on single-mode and multimode fibre?

Yes. We splice and terminate OS1 and OS2 single-mode and OM3, OM4 and OM5 multimode fibre, to the connector your equipment uses.

Which connectors can you fit?

All the common types: LC, SC, ST, FC and high-density MTP/MPO.

Can you fix a cut or damaged fibre urgently?

Yes, with a 2-hour to 4-hour response time for critical emergencies. Call 0333 900 0101 and our fibre repair team will arrange attendance. We find the fault first, then splice or replace the damaged section.

Are your fibre engineers qualified?

Yes. ACCL is a member of the Fibre Optic Industry Association (FIA), and our engineers are trained and certified to industry standard.

What do fibre splicing and termination services include?

We join fibres by fusion or mechanical splicing, fit connectors to the ends (termination), test every joint and link, label every core, and hand over the results. That covers new installations, extensions, and repairs to cut or damaged cable, on single-mode and multimode fibre.

What is fibre jointing?

Fibre jointing is another name for fibre splicing: joining two fibres so light passes from one to the other with as little loss as possible. We fusion splice permanent links and use mechanical splices for urgent repairs and temporary fixes.

Do you terminate and splice fibre in London?

Yes. ACCL has been installing and repairing fibre in London and the South East since 1997, from our offices in London and Orpington. At Legal 500 on Fleet Street we renewed an OM4 fibre backbone across six storeys inside a ten-day shutdown.

How much does fibre splicing cost, and how long does it take?

Cost and time depend on the number of cores and links, the fibre type, the connectors, how hard the routes are to reach and when the work has to be done, so we do not quote a price per splice without the detail. Send your drawings and fibre counts, or book a free survey. A fixed-price proposal follows within 48 hours of receiving floor plans, with testing included. Certification results follow within 24 hours of the tests.

Do I need a survey before you quote?

For most jobs, yes, and it is free. For a small repair, drawings and photos are often enough for us to price it.

Wayne Connors, Founder and Managing Director of ACCL
Wayne ConnorsFounder & Managing Director

The team behind your fibre work

Fibre engineers who test and document every joint.

Founded in 1997, ACCL surveys, splices, tests and documents fibre networks through one accountable team. Our engineers work across London, Kent and the South East, and ACCL is a member of the Fibre Optic Industry Association.

Wayne Connors founded ACCL in 1997 and has led our commercial cabling projects ever since, including 30km of fibre for the Thames Tideway Tunnel and fire-survival fibre for Sun Chemical. We’re a member of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Free fibre site survey

An itemised fibre quote before any work starts.

One of our own engineers surveys your site at no cost and with no obligation. Send drawings, fibre counts or test results if you have them.

  1. Site survey We check the routes, cabinets and existing fibre.
  2. Itemised quote Joints, connectors, testing and access, all priced.
  3. Certified install Tested, documented and handed over.
Book a Free Site Survey Call 0333 900 0101

Excellent · 60+ Google reviews · Founded 1997 · £10m liability cover

Guides for planning fibre work

Fibre optic guides