Small-diameter HDPE pathway designed for jetted fiber micro-cable. The pathway under most modern OSP and BEAD-funded fiber builds.
Microduct is small-diameter HDPE pathway sized for jetted fiber micro-cable. Common individual sizes run 10/8, 12/10, and 16/12 mm. Microducts deploy in bundled configurations inside a larger protective conduit, giving the network operator dense, future-proof pathway with many independent fiber routes from a single trench or bore.
HexTel boring and trenching crews place microduct bundles inside protective conduit at the design depth and pull-tape every duct immediately for future jetting access. Fusion-locking connectors maintain bundle continuity at handholes. The closeout includes microduct mapping by color/number with GPS-tagged manhole locations so future jets land in the right duct.
Microduct is small-diameter HDPE pathway designed for jetted fiber micro-cable. Typical individual sizes are 10/8 mm, 12/10 mm, and 16/12 mm (outer/inner diameter). Microducts are usually deployed in bundled configurations — 4-, 7-, 12-, or 24-way bundles inside a larger protective conduit — giving the network operator a future-proofed pathway with many independent fiber drops.
Microduct is purpose-built for jetting: tighter ID tolerance, low-friction inner wall, and pre-lubricated finish all let micro-cable jet farther in a single shot. A 12-way microduct bundle in a 50 mm protective conduit can carry up to 12 independent fiber routes — far higher density than a single 1.25-inch innerduct.
Sizing is matched to the cable manufacturer's spec. A 12/10 mm microduct typically takes a 7–10 mm micro-cable (cable OD ≤ 70% of duct ID is a common rule of thumb). High-fiber-count micro-cables (576-fiber and above) need 16/12 mm or larger.
Some microduct products are rated for direct burial; many are not, and have to live inside a larger protective conduit. The choice depends on soil conditions, rodent risk, depth of cover, and the local regulatory environment. Most BEAD-funded and large carrier programs prefer microduct inside conduit for long-term protection.
Microduct is the pathway; jetting is the install method. Modern OSP fiber builds typically install microduct first (with the protective conduit, if used), then jet micro-cable into the desired microduct at the time of fiber turn-up. This decouples pathway construction from cable install and lets the operator add new cables later without re-digging.
Yes — directional boring, trenching, and microduct placement plus subsequent jetting are part of HexTel's standard fiber scope. See /glossary/fiber-jetting for the install method and /services/fiber for the full OSP scope.
A 30-minute scoping call covers route geometry, microduct sizing, depth-of-cover, and the cleanest path to a jetting-ready pathway.
