From Legacy to Value: Sustainable Solutions for Copper Cable Recovery_By FIBERCOP
23/02/2026 - 06/06/2026
BACKGROUND
As part of decommissioning legacy technologies, particularly the copper network, the challenge is to develop innovative solutions for recovering decommissioned cables, both underground and overhead, and transforming them into secondary raw materials, reducing environmental impact, and generating economic value.
FiberCop, a leader in fiber optic network management, plays an active role in this transition, managing decommissioned copper cables to repurpose and enhance their value for future reuse. Given the large volume of material, time constraints, and copper’s intrinsic value, efficient and sustainable solutions are essential. Advanced processes must be developed to optimize recovery, reduce costs and environmental impact, and promote a Circular Economy.
CHALLENGE
The challenge is to explore new methods for recovering underground and overhead cables beyond traditional duct extraction.
- The objective is to evaluate the solutions from multiple perspectives:
- Technical: Efficiency and compatibility with existing infrastructure;
- Environmental: Ecological impact of the proposed techniques;
- Logistical: Optimization of operations, recovery time, and material handling;
- Safety: Minimization of risks for both operators and the environment;
- Costs: Analysis of operational and recovery costs.
Multidisciplinary approaches are required to optimize recovery, reduce costs and environmental impact, and promote a Circular Economy.
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