Full-fibre infrastructure - installed in 2 hours
STAKKAbox™ ULTIMA | Concrete infill covers |
Project overview
A busy town centre is no place for a lengthy excavation. So, for this full-fibre infrastructure project in Bolton, the installation team needed to create:
a) a robust new underground access point,
while
b) keeping disruption to a minimum in an area with heavy pedestrian footfall.
The installation therefore combined our:
- STAKKAbox™ ULTIMA access chamber
- Concrete infill access covers
Using these lightweight, modular, and field-proven components, the chamber was installed in just two hours - helping minimise the impact on the surrounding town-centre environment.
📸 Pictured: Rapid, deskilled chamber construction with minimal tooling
The challenge
Network expansion in a busy town-centre environment comes with a different set of pressures to a rural or greenfield installation. Space is limited, access can be difficult, and extended works can affect pedestrians, neighbouring businesses, and day-to-day activity.
For this Bolton city centre project, then, the team needed an access solution that could:
- Support the expansion of the local telecoms network
- Be installed quickly in an area with heavy pedestrian footfall
- Reduce the need for lengthy, disruptive construction works
- Provide a clean, practical chamber environment for cable installation and future maintenance
- Deliver secure, long-term surface access to the network
The key requirement was speed. Here, the team needed a solution that could be installed rapidly but without compromising the quality or long-term accessibility of the finished chamber.
📸 Pictured: Steel frame detail. (Rolled steel section, in compliance with BS1449 and galvanised in compliance with BS EN ISO 1461.)
📸 Pictured: Live works in the busy Bolton streetscape
The solution
Cubis Systems supplied a complete chamber solution designed to make installation quicker and more manageable in a constrained urban setting.
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A lightweight modular build: STAKKAbox™ ULTIMA sections are lightweight and stack together quickly. So, the installation team built the chamber to the required depth without the extended build programme associated with traditional construction methods.
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Installed in just two hours: The chamber was built in approximately two hours. This reduced the time spent working in a high-footfall town-centre location, and helped the team minimise disruption around the site.
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Practical access from the surface: Concrete infill access covers completed the installation. They provide a durable, secure point of entry for engineers conducting cable installation, inspection, and maintenance works.
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Ready for the network ahead: The finished chamber provides a protected, accessible underground space for the expanding telecoms network - supporting both the immediate installation and future access.
📸 Pictured: Sump that collects water and allows it to drain - easily created on-site
"This project shows the benefit of using a lightweight, modular chamber system. The team was able to create a complete, robust telecoms access point in just two hours, helping to keep disruption to pedestrians and the wider area to a minimum."
The outcome
The Bolton installation demonstrates how a modular access chamber can help telecoms contractors work efficiently in busy urban environments.
Key outcomes included:
- A complete chamber installation in two hours
- Minimal disruption in a high-footfall town-centre setting
- Simpler handling on site using lightweight chamber sections
- Secure, reliable surface access through concrete infill covers
- Future-ready access for the installation, inspection and maintenance of the telecoms network
By combining our proven STAKKAbox™ ULTIMA and concrete infill covers, the project team delivered a fast, practical and dependable access solution.
All without allowing essential network works to become a prolonged disruption in Bolton town centre.
📸 Pictured: Our design means that a single operative can lift and slide each cover leaf out of the frame, rather than having to lift it from a corner or remove the full cover arrangement in one go
Planning a full-fibre or telecoms infrastructure project?
Whether your project is in a busy town centre, residential street, or rural development, we can help you specify an access solution that supports efficient installation and dependable long-term network access. Get in touch with the team today.
FAQ
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How does Cubis Systems support telecoms and full fibre infrastructure projects?
Cubis Systems has supported the telecoms sector for decades, working with network operators, designers, and contractors to deliver practical underground infrastructure for fibre roll-outs, network upgrades and new connections.
Our telecoms range includes modular access chambers and covers, ducting and cable protection systems, and chamber accessories. By supplying compatible products as a complete system, we help project teams reduce installation time, labour, site risk and disruption. All while making projects more sustainable.
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Are Cubis Systems products approved for telecoms use?
Cubis Systems supplies access infrastructure that is heavily specified across all major UK telecoms networks. Specific product approvals depend on the individual network operator, the product selected, and the conditions at the installation site.
For example, STAKKAbox™ JMF is the only Openreach-approved modular access chamber system. Other chamber systems, covers and accessories can be specified to meet the particular requirements of a telecoms project, including chamber size, location, loading class, duct arrangement and future access needs.
Our technical and telecoms teams can help project teams select the appropriate solution and supporting documentation for their application.
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Where are Cubis Systems access solutions manufactured?
Cubis Systems manufacturing is proudly British. The “Made in Britain” logo you'll see on our products confirms you’re getting a piece of craftsmanship made in one of our GB or Northern Ireland manufacturing facilities.
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What is STAKKAbox™ ULTIMA?
STAKKAbox™ ULTIMA is a high-strength, modular composite access chamber system. Its stackable sections enable installers to construct chambers to the required depth and configuration on site. It is suited to multiple utility applications including telecoms infrastructure, where a durable and accessible underground chamber is required.
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Why was a modular chamber suitable for this Bolton town-centre project?
Modular chamber sections are lightweight and straightforward to handle on-site. This can help installation teams build access chambers quickly, particularly where site space is limited and disruption needs to be controlled. For this project, the chamber was installed in approximately two hours, helping to reduce the duration of works in an area with heavy pedestrian footfall.
