NanoTrenching: The Smarter, Smaller Approach to Surface Fiber - Installation rates beyond 1000 feet per hour.
In today’s fast-moving world of telecommunications, the demand for faster, more reliable internet and data delivery is growing rapidly. While traditional methods like microtrenching have helped accelerate fiber deployment compared to full-depth drilling, they still come with challenges — including large, expensive equipment, higher labor costs, and moderate disruption to roadways and surfaces, yet still far ahead of drilling methods.
That’s where NanoTrenching comes in. As the name suggests, NanoTrenching is a scaled-down version of microtrenching — using smaller, more agile tools to create ultra-shallow cuts just below the surface of the pavement. These narrow slots allow us to lay fiber optic cable efficiently and then seal the cut with reinstatment. The result is a cleaner, faster, and more cost-effective deployment method with minimal surface disruption.
While not a popular choice before, we've used this approach for years, often at the request of customers who needed fiber and copper in the ground quickly without major disruptions or construction. In many cases, we’ve achieved this using compact concrete saws or modified tooling, proving that you don’t need oversized machines to get high-quality results.
NanoTrenching is the next evolution of surface-level fiber installation — delivering all the speed advantages of microtrenching, but with a lighter footprint, lower costs, and faster turnaround.
As a Nano Trenching installation contractor, National Data Contractor is proud to offer th smaller footprint approach to our clients. Nano Trenching is transforming how we deliver broadband infrastructure, especially in environments where conventional microtrenching doesn't fit.
Why the Industry Needed a Change
The demand for high-speed internet and real-time data transmission continues to surge. Yet, traditional trenching and microtrenching methods can be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and environmentally disruptive. They often involve deep cuts, though we've run shallow 1/2 edge cuts for surface level fiber, but with such a shallow cut, there's no need for the heavy equipment — all of which delay deployment and drive up costs.
Recognizing these challenges, National Data Contractor adopted Nano Trenching technology to meet the growing need for rapid, scalable, and minimally invasive fiber installations.
What Is Nano Trenching?
Nano Trenching is a surface level fiber deployment method that offers an efficient alternative to microtrenching. Instead of cutting deep into pavement, or using big equipment to cut shallow, we simple shrink the equipment and follow the same proven methods of MicroTrenching. Nothing new, just smarter and following the demands. Nano Trenching involves a shallow cut just deep enough to bury the fiber with some headroom for a durable topcoat onto paved surfaces, side walks, gutter pans, where laying fiber optic cable within the groove, and sealing it with a durable resin.
This approach drastically reduces the need for excavation and restoration. The process results in a low-impact, high-performance installation method that blends into the environment and avoids many of the headaches of older techniques.
Partnering with National Data Contractor for Nano Trenching means unlocking a whole new level of service capability that sets your fiber rollout ahead of the curve.
Advantages of Nano Trenching Over Traditional Methods
1. Rapid Deployment:
Nano Trenching dramatically shortens project timelines. While traditional trenching might take months, and microtrenching half that, Nano Trenching can complete installations in just days — or even hours. Our crews can deploy 8-10,000 feet of fiber per day in ideal situations, far exceeding what’s typically possible with deep trench microtrenching.
2. Cost Savings:
By reducing labor requirements, eliminating heavy excavation equipment, and minimizing surface restoration, Nano Trenching offers substantial cost savings. These savings benefit both clients and contractors, allowing National Data Contractor to submit highly competitive bids without compromising quality.
3. Minimal Disruption:
Because the trench is shallow and narrow, there's little interference with existing utilities or traffic flow. Pedestrian walkways, driveways, and busy streets remain largely unaffected during installation — a key advantage in urban and commercial environments.
4. Environmentally Friendly:
Nano Trenching uses fewer materials and produces less waste. The shallow cut requires minimal infill, and the sealed fiber has a much smaller physical and ecological footprint than traditional trenches.
5. Efficient Installation Process:
The process begins with the downsizing of our heavy equipment to a nano scale, well maybe not technically nano, but you get the point. Our blades are scaled down, and as a result, everything else speeds up! The entire operation is just a small scale nano version of it's big brother, just streamlined, clean, and easy to deploy — ideal for municipalities, campuses, interior, metro crowed areas and tight spaces.
6. Simple Cleanup:
All debris is vacuumed by the machine and removed — a vast improvement over truck-haul cleanups required by traditional trenching.
Addressing Common Concerns
Durability:
The resin used in Nano Trenching has been rigorously tested to withstand heavy traffic, weather conditions, and long-term wear by the manufacturers, as it's used daily throughout the world.
Scalability:
Nano Trenching can support a wide range of fiber capacities, from 2-fiber to 144 fiber cables. This makes it ideal for various applications, from single-site connections to large-scale deployments.
The Future of Fiber Is Here
Nano Trenching is not a new technique — it's our way of being smarter, cleaner, faster, and more economical. National Data Contractor is proud to be at the forefront of flexibility by offering this service when others still stick to the heavy equipment modeltechnology. We are simply offering installation options that align with modern demands for speed, reliability, minimal disruption, and costs.
By partnering with National Data Contractor, you gain access to cutting-edge fiber deployment solutions that are faster, more affordable, and more efficient than ever before. Whether you're upgrading an existing network or deploying new infrastructure, Nano Trenching gives you the edge.
Call National Data Contractor today to learn how Nano Trenching can accelerate your fiber deployment project — with less cost, less hassle, and more impact.