The rapid rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping the digital landscape and redefining broadband infrastructure needs.
New research from the Fiber Broadband Association confirms that the United States will require 2.3 times more fiber to support AI performance, scalability, and security. Meeting this challenge requires fiber optic installation methods that keep projects moving.
Microtrenching has emerged as a proven technique to accelerate fiber deployment while minimizing cost and disruption. By combining this approach with advanced conduit systems such as Atkore’s Micro-Path™, providers can build the resilient infrastructure needed for the next generation of connectivity.
Industry research has shown that microtrenching consistently improves the speed, cost, and reliability of fiber projects. The following sections outline the key areas where it outperforms traditional approaches.
Microtrenching speeds up installation by a wide margin. Research from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute shows that microtrenching achieves installation speeds up to 80 percent faster than conventional trenching. The efficiency comes from narrower cuts and shallower depths that allow conduit to be placed and restored more quickly.
Projects that once stretched across several days can now be finished in hours. Crews can cut, place conduit, and close the trench with far less interruption to daily life. Roads and sidewalks reopen the same day, reducing delays for commuters and limiting business disruptions along the route.
Source: Texas A&M Transportation Institute
This efficiency extends beyond timelines. Microtrenching creates far less disturbance at the surface compared with traditional methods. According to industry studies, crews can cut, install conduit, and restore the roadway rapidly, often while allowing traffic to continue flowing.
The approach also minimizes environmental impact. Shallower cuts mean less soil displacement, reduced equipment emissions, and a smaller carbon footprint overall. By limiting disturbance in the right-of-way and on private property, microtrenching helps maintain a more positive public perception of fiber projects.
3. Lowering Deployment Costs
The financial advantages are equally compelling. Studies show microtrenching can be up to 60 percent less costly than open trenching or boring. Faster work, smaller crews, and reduced restoration needs all contribute to the savings.
For example, traditional trenching often runs around $400 per linear foot, while microtrenching can reduce that figure to about one-fifth. The shortened schedules translate into fewer labor hours and less reliance on heavy machinery, driving costs down.
Source: Broadband Communities Magazine
The shallow profile of microtrenching also protects what lies below. With less depth, the risk of striking water, gas, or power lines is significantly reduced compared to traditional methods. This lowers the likelihood of costly repairs and service interruptions.
For communities, the narrower trench integrates more easily with ongoing maintenance activities. That means projects advance with fewer detours and shorter closures, helping daily life continue with less disruption.
Microtrenching can also ease the regulatory side of deployment. Narrow, shallow cuts require less investigation and preparation before work begins, potentially reducing the level of effort for approvals.
Many municipalities now view the method as a preferred option for fiber deployment. This recognition can shorten permitting timelines and help providers move projects forward more efficiently.
While microtrenching provides the pathway, the choice of conduit determines long-term value. Atkore’s Micro-Path™ microduct system is engineered from high-density polyethylene to deliver both flexibility and durability. Multiple ducts can be bundled inside a protective sheath, allowing thousands of feet to be spooled for efficient transport and installation.
The system simplifies deployment by reducing the number of vaults and closures required in the field. It also provides additional pathways for future expansion, eliminating the need for repeated excavation in urban or environmentally sensitive areas. Manufactured in the United States and compliant with Build America, Buy America requirements, Micro-Path™ supports broadband growth with a reliable, scalable foundation.
Microtrenching addresses many of the barriers to fiber deployment, including speed, disruption, cost, safety, and permitting. Each advantage builds toward a faster, cleaner, and more cost-effective way to expand broadband infrastructure.
When paired with Atkore’s Micro-Path™ microduct system, the long-term value becomes even greater. Providers gain a durable, flexible pathway that supports future expansion without repeated excavation, lowering lifecycle costs and accelerating deployment.
Together, microtrenching and Micro-Path™ create a proven strategy for delivering high-speed connectivity where it is needed most. Now is the time to adopt these methods and build the networks that will support the future of broadband. Learn more about how Atkore’s Micro-Path™ can support your next project.