Question 1

What does the $250 on-site inspection include?

Accepted Answer

The $250 (inc. GST) covers one hour on-site with an Open Registered Cabler. We run OTDR testing to locate the break with precision, physically inspect the damage at the fault location, classify the damage type — severed, crushed, or micro-bent — and assess whether the break is within the customer domain where a fusion splice is permissible. From this visit we prepare a written repair scope with a cost estimate. Travel up to 40km from our Sutherland Shire office is included. You receive the written quote before any repair work is committed to or charged.

Question 2

Do I pay the $250 if my fibre can't be repaired on-site?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the $250 is the fee for the on-site inspection itself, not for the repair work that may follow. Fibre optic repair requires knowing exactly what you're dealing with before quoting, and that knowledge comes from attending the property with OTDR equipment and physically locating the fault. If the break is assessed and is found to sit outside the permissible customer domain — for example, it originates in part of the network that NBN Co is responsible for — you receive written documentation of exactly what was found, which you can use to escalate with your ISP. No further charge applies if you decide not to proceed with any quoted repair work.

Question 3

What happens after the inspection — how does the quoting process work?

Accepted Answer

After the inspection we take the OTDR results, site photos, and damage documentation back to the office and prepare a written scope of work with an itemised cost estimate. This covers fusion splice labour, any excavation or access work required to reach the fault, splice enclosure installation, post-repair OTDR verification testing, and written certification of the repair. The quote is emailed to you — or to your building manager, body corporate, or contractor if the damage is subject to a liability claim. No work is scheduled or charged until you have reviewed and approved the written quote.

Question 4

What affects the cost of a fibre optic repair?

Accepted Answer

The main cost factors are: whether the break is accessible without excavation or requires digging to expose the cable; the depth and length of any required excavation; whether the break is a clean cut suitable for a straightforward splice, or involves a crushed or degraded section that needs a longer cable section removed; the type of enclosure required to protect the splice point from soil and moisture; and whether additional cable needs to be run to bridge a gap caused by severe damage. A straightforward accessible break with a clean cut is at the lower end of the range. A buried break requiring excavation, conduit protection, and a bridging cable section sits higher. All labour and materials are itemised in the written quote you receive after inspection.

Question 5

Are there extra charges for travel outside 40km?

Accepted Answer

Travel up to 40km from our Sutherland Shire office is included in the $250 inspection fee. For properties beyond 40km, a travel supplement applies — calculated at the ATO cents-per-kilometre rate for the return distance beyond 40km. This is confirmed with you before the inspection is booked — never a surprise after the visit. See full travel pricing in our Terms and Conditions.

Question 6

Can I send photos instead of booking an on-site inspection?

Accepted Answer

Yes — if you can take clear photos and video of the damage, we can often give you a preliminary idea of what's involved and a rough cost indication before committing to an inspection. This is particularly useful if you want to assess whether the repair scope justifies an on-site visit, or if you need to present a rough figure to a contractor or insurance company first. Submit photos and video via our contact page or give us a call on 02 9188 1577. For an accurate written quote, a physical on-site inspection with OTDR testing is always required — photos alone can't tell us the exact location or full extent of the damage.

Question 7

Can a damaged fibre optic cable be repaired?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in many cases fibre optic cable can be repaired. The standard method for a clean physical break or cut is fusion splicing — a process that precisely aligns and permanently joins two fibre ends using heat, restoring optical continuity with minimal signal loss. However, not every damage scenario is straightforwardly repairable in place. Severely crushed cable, multiple break points, or damage at inaccessible locations may require partial or full cable replacement rather than a splice. An on-site inspection with OTDR testing tells us exactly what has happened, where the fault is located, and whether a splice or replacement is the right approach for your specific situation. We provide a written repair scope before any work begins.

Question 8

What causes fibre optic cable damage?

Accepted Answer

The most common cause is accidental severing during ground works. NBN Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) installations frequently use a direct-bury method when existing conduit is blocked or unavailable — placing fibre directly in the soil at a minimum depth of 150mm inside the property boundary. At that depth, it is well within reach of a garden spade, fence post, concrete saw, or excavator bucket. Other causes include physical crushing from heavy vehicle loads or concrete poured over the cable, severe bending beyond the cable's minimum bend radius, rodent damage, and connector contamination or physical damage at the NTD or external connection point. Degradation can also occur slowly from repeated microbending, showing as intermittent dropouts before complete failure.

Question 9

How do I know if my fibre cable is damaged?

Accepted Answer

The most obvious indicator is a complete loss of NBN service following ground works on your property. If your internet was working normally before digging, landscaping, fencing, or renovations and stopped shortly after, a physical cable damage is the most likely cause. Intermittent connectivity or severely degraded speeds can also point to a partial break, microbend, or connector issue causing elevated optical loss rather than a clean cut. Your ISP's fault diagnosis will typically confirm there is a premises-side signal problem but cannot tell you where the damage is or what the repair scope involves — that requires OTDR testing on site. The NTD optical power indicator being unlit or red is a reliable visual sign that the lead-in fibre is not passing light.

Question 10

Can you splice a broken fibre optic cable?

Accepted Answer

Yes — fusion splicing is the standard repair method for a physical fibre break. A fusion splicer uses an electric arc to cleave, align, and thermally fuse two fibre ends together, creating a permanent joint with optical loss typically below 0.1 dB when performed correctly. Our senior fibre specialist holds advanced network qualifications in fibre splicing and installation, and actively teaches these techniques to industry technicians. Where a splice is feasible — the break is accessible, the remaining cable length is sufficient, and the repair falls within the permissible customer domain (between the PCD and NTD) — we restore signal integrity to a level that meets provider expectations. Post-splice OTDR testing confirms the result, and documentation of the repair is provided as part of the service.

Question 11

What is OTDR testing?

Accepted Answer

OTDR stands for Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer. It is a specialist instrument that tests fibre integrity from one end by sending precisely timed light pulses along the cable and measuring what is reflected back. The resulting trace maps the entire length of the fibre, showing connector quality, splice losses, attenuation events, and the exact distance to any break or fault — typically accurate to within one to two metres. In practical terms, OTDR testing tells us precisely where your fibre is broken without needing to excavate the full cable run first. This makes it the essential first step in any fibre fault assessment. We use professional-grade OTDR equipment and our specialist interprets the trace on site, explaining the findings in plain terms before any repair scope is agreed upon.

Question 12

Who repairs NBN fibre cables in Sydney?

Accepted Answer

NBN Co owns the network infrastructure from the PCD (external connection point) back to the pit and beyond — that is their responsibility, not ours. The section we are authorised to work on runs from the PCD to the NTD inside your premises — this is the customer domain. If the damage falls within that section, a licensed cabler can carry out repairs. If it falls in NBN's infrastructure, we attend, inspect, document the findings, and provide written support for your ISP or NBN escalation. SECURE A COM is a licensed telecommunications cabling provider (ACMA A10089, ACA 16598) based in Sutherland Shire, operating Sydney-wide. Within our permitted scope, our senior fibre specialist provides OTDR diagnostics, fusion splice repairs, premises-side cable replacements, cable relocations, and NTD re-terminations. We are the specialists other trades contact when a premises-side fibre fault needs to be properly assessed and restored.

Question 13

How much does fibre optic repair cost?

Accepted Answer

The cost of a fibre optic repair depends on the nature and extent of the damage, the accessibility of the break point, and whether the solution is a splice, partial cable replacement, or a full premises-side cable replacement. Quoting accurately without first locating and assessing the fault is not possible — this is why we use an inspection-first model. The on-site inspection includes OTDR testing and a physical damage assessment, after which we provide a fixed written quote covering the full repair scope. You know the exact cost before any repair work begins. For full details on what the inspection includes and how the quoting process works, see the Pricing section above.

Question 14

How long does fibre optic repair take?

Accepted Answer

A straightforward fusion splice on an accessible break can often be completed within the inspection visit — provided the break is safely reachable, the cable length either side of the fault is sufficient, and the repair falls within the permissible customer domain (PCD to NTD). More complex scenarios — where cable must be partially or fully replaced, a new pathway run, or the break is buried under landscaping or concrete — are scoped during the inspection and quoted as a follow-up job. In most cases, the fault is diagnosed on the day of the inspection and a repair plan is agreed before we leave the site. Our senior fibre specialist carries fusion splicing and OTDR equipment on every inspection visit and can give you a realistic timeline for your situation at the time of the assessment.

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FIBRE OPTIC CABLE REPAIR SYDNEY

Your Fibre Optic Cable Is Down. We Find the Fault. We Restore the Fibre.