16 Feb
2021
16 Feb
'21
9:38 a.m.
On Feb 16, 2021, at 8:25 AM, Mike Hammett <nanog@ics-il.net> wrote:
It's cheaper to build 2x, 3x, 4x the aerial plant than to build 1x the underground plant.
The actual cost per foot is more like 10x difference, but there are right of way, maintenance, etc. costs to factor in as well.
Labor is something in 8x but the permit/engineering cost is usually the same per foot, but the make-ready on poles can make underground competitive or more like 1.5x when you fully bake the costs. Really depends on pole distances and quality. O&M long-term is lower on underground vs aerial. - Jared