Define endpoints and business requirements
Record the locations of both endpoints, existing interfaces and target speeds. Include foreseeable expansion. Cable specifications depend on equipment, distance and environment; a request for a fibre link alone is not enough.
Survey the actual route
Check ducts, trays, risers and access windows. Record bend, water, pulling and protection conditions. Confirm permissions before work crosses roads or shared spaces. Drawing distances are not a substitute for the installed route length.
Check modules and the link budget
Put device models, wavelengths, connectors, speeds and fibre types in one schedule. Distance is only one factor: verify transmit and receive power, link loss and compatibility against vendor specifications and field measurements.
Agree acceptance methods early
Specify continuity, insertion-loss measurements and OTDR records where appropriate. OTDR can help locate events but does not replace every acceptance test. Agree wavelengths, reference procedures and pass criteria before work begins.
Hand over useful records
Check route drawings, fibre assignments, labels, splice records and test reports. Record fault-reporting contacts and maintenance boundaries so future expansion and troubleshooting have a reliable starting point.