That is, although specially designed fiber optic cables are intended for direct burial, uncontrollable conditions such as soil type, depth of burial, drainage in the site, and attacks by rodents may negatively affect the durability of any buried cable. Before applying protective measures, it's essential to understand the main risks fiber optic cables face outdoors. Moisture & Flooding:. Even small forms of damage—from a bent cable to a rodent bite—can disrupt signals, cause costly outages, and require expensive repairs. But because the cable sits in soil exposed to moisture, load, rodents and excavation risk, planning and execution must be careful. 5 meters due to their steel tape protection, resisting 50 kN/m² soil pressure. 9 meters, relying on conduits or ducts for added safety. Aerial-to-Buried Transitions: Depths increase to 1. 8 million km in scope by 2025 (per TeleGeography), burying these cords of light comes with the benefits of avoiding cable damage, decreasing downtime, and extending their operational lifetime.