Fiber cables are buried in the ground within conduits or cable ducts. Accessing cables for maintenance or future upgrades can be more difficult. Most underground fiber failures are not caused by fiber quality, but by wrong trench depth, insufficient mechanical protection, or over-bending and over-tension during installation. Overhead lines are also vulnerable to climatic conditions such as ice storms, hurricanes, or tornadoes that can pull down poles or pull down overhead lines. You won't have to worry about the cable being blown down. Burying fiber optic lines offers several advantages over aerial installation: Protection from the Elements: Underground cables are shielded from wind, ice, snow, and extreme temperatures. This article will compare overhead vs underground.