A container and methods of storing and deploying cable

Abstract

Container 300 for storing and deploying cable 140, defining a coreless cable storage space V within which cable can be coiled, comprising: a perimeter structure (fig 5d, 332) extending around cable storage space for maintaining cable in a coil around a periphery of cable storage space using only an inherent stiffness of cable; a cable inlet 350 for leading portion of cable into the cable storage space; a cable outlet 370 allowing cable to be withdrawn from cable storage space in a direction generally perpendicular to a plane of coil, without opening container. Inlet may be at peripheral or central location within cable storage space. May include deflecting structure 312. Inlet and outlet may face each other. Portion of cable inlet or outlet may be removable to allow widening of inlet or outlet. Customer premises (fig 1a, 104) are connected to a network by a phased series of works. Container is provided at a network demarcation point. Cable incoming from a distribution point 102 is introduced into container through inlet. Cable is coiled within the container, sufficient to reach customer premises. Method of storing and further deploying a length of cable at a customer premises network demarcation point is also disclosed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates to installation of cables such as telecommunications cables (e.g. optical fibres or copper wires) to a number of premises. The disclosure relates in particular to a container for storing a length of cable and to methods of storage and deployment of cables using such a container. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Fibre optic cables can be installed through the ground, via ducts, and via service spaces within buildings by a variety of methods, including direct burying (trenching), pulling through ducts, pushing through ducts, blowing through ducts, aerial spans, and combinations of these. Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) is a generic term for broadband network architecture that uses optical fibre technology to carry data to a premises (whether residential or otherwise) from a broadband service provider via a telecommunications cabinet located near a customer premises. This is sometimes referred to as "last mile" connectivity. The "premises” part of FTTP may also be interpreted to include specific end devices to be used as part of future network builds. For commercial and practical purposes, there is often a demarcation point between different phases of the deployment works. The demarcation point may be associated with one property or a group of properties. The demarcation point may be positioned on or near a real or notional property demarcation or a physical surface, such as a perimeter wall delineating the curtilage of a property, or an external or internal wall or riser of a building. It is known to provide enclosures such as underground boundaiy boxes (sometimes known in the United Kingdom as "toby boxes") at the demarcation points. These are used for housing ducts, branches, and connections. Known boundary boxes have hinged or removable lids providing access to their internal volume from above. Installing openable enclosures reduces the need for further digging, though in some countries or regions boundary boxes may be wholly or partially buried. Ducts (conduits) for individual premises can be installed to the boundaiy boxes, which can be accessed within the box to route cables onwards to the premises. For reasons of commercial and logistical expediency, it is known to pre-install a length of cable sufficient to span the distance from the distribution point to the boundary box, and even a further length of cable sufficient to reach the customer premises. This length of cable is simply stored within the boundary box for potential future use, even when individual premises may never demand connection. Even when all premises will be connected, it can be convenient to perform the deployment in distinct phases. Pre-installing cable to a nearby demarcation point avoids the need for attendance at a distant cabinet or similar access point to complete the customer connection. Storing the further length of cable eliminates the need for a splice joint or other optical connection to complete the customer connection. The cable can be wound on a spool, or simply coiled. A plastic bag is often used to protect it from damp and other contamination. Also for reasons of commercial and logistical expediency, it is known to divide FTTP deployment projects into distinct phases. In a primary phase, for example, conduits and cables can be deployed to demarcation points without completing the connections to individual premises. At a later date, connections to individual premises can be completed in a secondary phase of the deployment. The secondary phase can thus convert part of a FTTP network from a "homes passed" status to a "homes connected” status. This secondary phase can be conducted, without the need for any further significant construction work, particularly in the public realm. Whilst the terms "homes passed" and "homes connected” are known in the industry, the reference to "homes” should, in the context of the present invention, be understood to also encompass non-residential properties. Despite the aforementioned benefits associated with existing use of pre-installed ducting and boundary boxes, the task of converting an FTTP network from "homes passed" to "homes connected" remains a time-intensive, multi-step process requiring access and operation on both the public and customer side of the boundary. Further reduction in the time, effort and cost associated with converting an FTTP network from "homes passed” (primary status) to "homes connected" (secondary status) would be beneficial. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first aspect of the present invention provides a container for storing and deploying a length of cable, the container defining a coreless cable storage space within which a length of cable can be coiled during use, the container further comprising: (i) a perimeter structure extending around the cable storage space for maintaining said length of cable in a coil around a periphery of the cable storage space using only an inherent stiffness of the cable; (ii) a cable inlet for passage of a first leading portion of the length of cable into the cable storage space; (in) a cable outlet for passage of a second portion of the length of cable out of the container, the cable outlet being arranged such that the stored length of cable can be withdrawn progressively from a central location in the cable storage space in a direction generally perpendicular to a plane of the coil and out through the cable outlet, without opening the container. The term 'coreless' used in relation to the cable storage space does not exclude the possibility of any internal features projecting into the cable storage space, provided that such features do not obstruct the path of the cable from said periphery to the central location. The term 'central location' in the context of the cable storage space does not mean an exact centre of the container, but is intended to include a range of locations generally in a central region, as opposed to the periphery where the coiled cable lies against the perimeter structure. The container may further include a deflecting structure, the deflecting structure and the perimeter structure together being configured to use the inherent stiffness of the cable to guide a length of cable to be stored into a coil by feeding the cable progressively into the storage space in a direction generally perpendicular to a plane of the coil through a feed opening formed at a central location within the cable storage space. When the coil is formed in this way, users can be confident that the stored length of cable can be paid out by pulling on the cable, without risk of tangling. In some examples, cable outlet is formed such that the length of cable to be stored can be fed into the container by pushing the cable in through the cable outlet, the outlet opening in that case serving as said feed opening. In such examples, the deflecting structure may for example include a surface that faces the outlet. In some examples, the cable inlet is formed such that the length of cable to be stored can be fed into the container by pushing the cable in through the cable inlet, the inlet opening in that case serving as said feed opening. In such examples, the deflecting structure may for example include a surface that faces the inlet opening. In some examples, both the cable inlet and the cable outlet are usable to feed in the cable to be stored, affording great flexibility in terms of manner and / or direction in which a length of cable is fed into the storage space and guided into a coil. For example, where the cable outlet and the cable inlet are formed such that the length of cable to be stored can be fed into the container by feeding the cable in through either the cable outlet or the cable inlet, the outlet opening and the inlet opening substantially facing one another across a central portion of the cable storage space, the deflecting structure may include a first deflecting surface that surrounds the outlet opening within the cable storage space and a second deflecting surface that surrounds the inlet opening within the cable storage space. Once the cable is passing through the cable inlet and the cable outlet via the cable storage space, coiling of the cable within the cable storage space may be initiated by preventing movement of the cable through one of the cable inlet and the cable outlet, while feeding the cable into the container through the other. The cable naturally bends until it engages the surrounding deflecting surfaces and is guided to form a coil around the periphery of the cable storage space. In some examples, the container is formed such that an outlet part and / or an inlet part can be removed to provide a wider feed opening for feeding in the length of cable to be stored, said outlet part or said inlet part being fitted to close the container after the length of cable has been stored. The perimeter structure may comprise a single formation, or a number of sections. As will be seen from the examples below, a closed cylindrical space defined by a continuous curved side wall is a simple way to provide the perimeter structure. A base wall of said closed cylindrical space may serve as the deflecting structure. The deflecting structure, being positioned generally opposite the feed opening, can deflect the cable towards the perimeter structure as it is fed in, to cause the coiling of the cable within the container. Conveniently, the perimeter structure and / or any deflecting structure are formed integrally with external walls of the container. This is not essential, however. Internal and external features of the container can be made separate, if desired. For example, a reduced-size perimeter structure may be provided, for coiling lighter cables into a reduced-diameter coil, within the standard container. In examples not having a deflecting structure formed as a permanent part of the container, a suitable deflecting structure could be added while the cable is being fed into the storage space, and optionally removed. In the latter case, of course, it may be difficult to re-insert a length of cable after it has been withdrawn. The perimeter structure may comprise one or more curved walls, for example a circular wall. The perimeter structure may define the cable storage space to have a substantially circular or oval form so as to guide the stored cable into a circular or oval coil. The perimeter structure may define the cable storage space to have, for example, a substantially cylindrical form or a tapering cylindrical form. A tapering form may be advantageous in settling the cable into a more stable configuration as it coils itself within the cable storage space, compared with a simple cylinder. When the tapering form is linear, the cable storage space may be frustoconical in shape. Alternatively, the tapering may be curved. The perimeter structure may define the cable storage space to have a more complex form, for example to guide the stored cable into a figure-of-eight coil. The container may incorporate a sealing arrangement for isolating the storage space from water and other contaminants from the environment, after a length of cable has been stored. In some examples, the container is ruggedised sufficiently to be usable in a buried and / or exposed environment without the protection of a separate boundary box. Optionally, the container including the perimeter structure is formed in more than one part, to be assembled at a point of use. Forming the container in different parts may facilitate access to the cable storage space for fitting the container around a length of cable at a point between the first leading portion and the second portion. An O-ring or other suitable seal may be fitted between the first and second parts to seal the container against gas and / or moisture ingress. The container may be provided with a pulling line extending through the cable storage space and via the cable inlet and the cable outlet, whereby a leading end of a cable can be drawn through the container without opening the container, prior to storage. Such an arrangement allows the container to be factory sealed, if desired. In use, the pulling line can either be removed from the cable after the leading end is safely through the container, or left attached for later use. Optionally, the cable inlet includes a first tubular cable guide for coupling the container to an incoming conduit. Optionally, the cable outlet includes a second tubular cable guide for coupling of the container to an outgoing conduit. (The label 'second’ should not be taken to require that a first tubular cable guide is also present.) Optionally, the cable outlet including the second tubular cable guide is configured to guide a length of cable out of the cable storage space from said central location along a curved path that begins in a direction perpendicular to a plane oriented generally parallel to the coiled cable and ends in an outlet direction parallel to said plane. Optionally, the cable outlet is formed so that the outlet direction is adjustable to different angles relative to an inlet direction defined by the cable inlet. The ability to adjust the outlet direction allows greater flexibility in terms of using the container in different situations. For example, the container can be used more easily with different boundary boxes having differently arranged exit ports, and / or with different arrangements of the incoming and outgoing ducting. There may also be other apparatus sharing the same space within a boundary box. Alternatively, the second tubular cable guide can be configured to guide the length of cable out of the cable storage space from said central location along a substantially straight path aligned with a central axis of the container. In some embodiments, the cable outlet is provided with an end part, for retaining and protecting a leading end of a length of cable that is stored in the cable storage space or an accessory attached to that leading end. The end part may be removed or otherwise opened, to gain access to the leading end of the cable when required. The end part optionally includes a retaining structure to prevent the leading end of the cable falling completely into the storage space. The retaining structure may for example be configured to engage a partial connector or other termination that has been pre-fitted to the leading end of the cable. Optionally, the end part is formed as a separate end cap to be fitted to the cable outlet when the cable has been stored. Alternatively, the end part may be formed as an integral part of the cable outlet (being for example an extension of the second tubular guide mentioned above), to be broken or cut from the cable outlet to gain access to the leading end of the stored cable when required. A second aspect of the present invention provides a method of storing a length of cable at a network demarcation point associated with a customer premises, the method comprising: (i) providing, at the demarcation point, a container having a cable inlet, a cable outlet and a cable storage space which is in communication with both the cable inlet and the cable outlet; (ii) introducing a first leading portion of cable directly or indirectly via said cable inlet into the cable storage space of the container, the cable originating at a distribution point; (hi) storing a further length of said cable within the cable storage space of the container, said further length having a length sufficient to reach an expected connection point within the customer premises; and (iv) storing either a leading end of said cable or a pulling accessory that is attached to that leading end in a location where it can be accessed at a future time to withdraw the further length of cable via said cable outlet without opening the cable storage space of the container. The order of performing the steps (ii) to (iv) is not critical, so long as the length of conduit is coiled in the container in such a way that the leading end (or at least the pulling accessory) can be accessed and the cable can be drawn out of the container, all without opening the storage space. Because the cable is introduced to the container and stored as part of the operations on site, the leading end and the stored length of cable can be part of a longer cable, leading from a distribution point to the demarcation point, and subsequently only to a customer premises. The installation of an extended network in different work phases is facilitated. The need to join different lengths of cable with splices and / or connectors between the distribution point, the demarcation point and the premises is reduced or eliminated completely. In some embodiments, the step (iv) includes connecting a stub conduit directly or indirectly to the cable outlet of the container and inserting the leading end of the cable or a pulling accessory that is attached to that leading end into the stub conduit. Such a stub conduit may conveniently extend a first distance towards the premises. In some examples, the stub conduit may extend a short distance across a boundary of the premises. In this way, even if the container is installed in the public realm, or in an otherwise inconvenient location, access to the cable can be gained at a later date, via the stub conduit, without working at that inconvenient location in the public realm, outside of the boundary. The container used in the method of the second aspect of the invention may optionally be a container according to the first aspect of the invention as set forth above. In that case, the stored length of cable will be formed in a coil, supported by the inherent stiffness of the cable within a coreless container. Alternatively, the stored length of cable may be formed into a coil around a core, and may be held in a coil by gravity, and / or by winding on a core. Optionally, the step (hi) of storing said further length of the cable within the container includes feeding said further length of the cable into the container by feeding the cable progressively into the storage space via a feed opening at or near a central location within the cable storage space. This operation will be facilitated by the inclusion of a deflecting structure, as described above. As described above in relation to the first aspect of the invention, the feed opening may be the same as an outlet opening via which the cable outlet communicates with the cable storage space. The further length of the cable may then be fed into the container by feeding it progressively into the storage space via the cable outlet. In alternative examples, the feed opening may be the same as an inlet opening via which the cable inlet communicates with the cable storage space. The further length of the cable may then be fed into the container by feeding it progressively into the storage space via the cable inlet. In some examples, an outlet part defining the cable outlet is separate from the container during the storing step (iif), the outlet part being fitted to close the container once the leading end of the cable exits the cable outlet, either before or after the further length of cable has been stored. Further alternatively, the cable may be coiled in part of the container in an open state, the container then being closed with the leading end of the cable, or at least a pulling accessory that is attached to that leading end, passing through the cable outlet. Optionally, in step (iii) said further length of cable is fed progressively into the storage space simultaneously with transporting the cable through an incoming conduit from the distribution point to the demarcation point. Optionally, the method includes providing a boundary box at the demarcation point and storing the container within the boundary box. The boundary box can be useful as protection for the container, and optionally other containers. Use of the method as set forth above avoids the need to locate and open the boundary box at a later date. In some embodiments, the cable inlet and the cable outlet of the container are directly connected to conduits entering and leaving the boundary box. Such an arrangement can provide a fully sealed system along the full length of the excess cable within both the conduit and the boundary box, and hence eliminate (or at least reduce) the possibility of moisture ingress, or contamination therein. The internal structure of the boundary box may be specially designed or adapted to hold the container in a predetermined orientation, or the boundary box may be of conventional design. In some embodiments, the container including the stored length of cable is stored underground, either within an enclosure or directly buried. In embodiments using a stub conduit to store the leading end of the cable, or at least to store a pulling accessory that is attached to that leading end, optionally the stub conduit extends through or below a perimeter wall, fence or other barrier defining the curtilage of a customer property or through an external or internal wall of a customer premises. Optionally, the method includes providing a location device close to where the leading end of the cable is stored, to enable it to be located for access at a future time. In some embodiments, the step (iv) of storing the leading end of the cable or at least a pulling accessory that is attached to that leading end includes sealing a space where the leading end or pulling accessory is stored against gas and / or moisture ingress. A third aspect of the present invention provides a method of deploying a length of cable previously stored at a network demarcation point associated with a customer premises, for example by the method of the second aspect of the disclosure as set forth above, for connection to a connection point at a customer premises, the method comprising: (i) accessing either the leading end of the cable or a pulling accessory that is attached to that leading end where it has previously been stored; and (ii) moving the stored cable progressively out of the container through the cable outlet, by a length at least sufficient to reach the connection point. The method optionally further includes the steps: (hi) providing a further conduit extending from the location of the stub conduit to said connection point; and (iv) moving the cable progressively through said further conduit by a length sufficient to reach the connection point. The method optionally further includes a step: (v) connecting a distal end of the stub conduit directly or indirectly to a proximal end of the further conduit. In an example where a stub conduit has been used to store the leading end of the cable, the step (v) optionally includes connecting a distal end of the stub conduit to a proximal end of the further conduit. In other words, a proximal end of the stub conduit may remain permanently connected to the cable outlet of the container. The connecting step (v) may be performed before or after the steps (ii) and / or (iv). In some examples, the steps (ii) and (iv) are performed before the step (v). That is to say, the cable is moved through the further conduit, for example by pushing, after (or while) being withdrawn from the container via the stub conduit. Once the sufficient length has been moved through the conduits, they can be coupled together to result in a sealed installation from the container to the connection point. In other examples, for example where the steps (ii) and (iv) are performed simultaneously, after the connecting step (v), a pulling line provided in the further conduit may be used to move the sufficient length of cable out of the container and onward to the connection point. The pulling line can be attached to the leading end of the cable either directly or via a pulling accessory, if one is already attached to the leading end of the cable. A residual length of cable may remain stored in the container after completion of the method. In the event that a length of cable greater than the sufficient length has (either deliberately or inadvertently) been moved out of the container in the performance of step (ii), the method may further include feeding an excess length of cable back into the container. It will be appreciated that this method can (if desired) be performed entirely without opening the container, and without opening any boundary box where the stored length of cable may be housed. Where the container itself is suitably rugged it may protect the stored length of cable, including its leading end, against the environment at the demarcation point. A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a method of storing a length of cable as part of a cable deployment project, the method comprising: (i) providing a boundary box at a network demarcation point; (ii) connecting a network to the boundary box via a cable introduced through a boundary box inlet, the cable originating at a distribution point; (hi) connecting a stub conduit to the boundary box via a boundary box outlet, the stub conduit extending a first distance toward the premises; and (iv) arranging excess cable from the network within the boundary box of a length sufficient to extend at a future date through said stub conduit and span a distance to a connection point at a premises. Optionally, the stub conduit extends underground. Subject to any required permissions, where the boundary boxes lie outside a boundary of a premises, the stub conduit may extend a short distance across the boundary of the premises. In this way, access to the stub conduit can be gained at a later date, without working outside of the boundary. The stub conduit may similarly extend a minimal distance through or under a perimeter wall, fence or other barrier associated with a premises or through the external or internal wall(s) of a premises, e.g. within a multi-storey building. Optionally, the method includes providing a location device on or toward the end of the conduit distal to the boundary box outlet to enable it to be located at the customer side of the boundary during a future secondary phase of a cable deployment project. Optionally, the method includes sealing the end of the conduit distal to the boundary box outlet against gas and / or moisture ingress pending a separate, future secondary phase of a cable deployment project. These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the claims and the following description and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs, la-d are schematic illustrations of a telecommunications network cable deployment project showing an initial "homes passed” (or primary) phase and the progressive steps provided by the present invention culminating in a "homes connected” (or secondary) status; Figs. 2a-c are cross-sectional schematic illustrations showing a boundary box at a network demarcation point according to a comparative example; Figs. 3a-e are cross-sectional schematic illustrations showing a boundary box at a network demarcation point and a method of completing a customer connection according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 4a-e illustrate a first example of a container according to an embodiment of the present invention, both in isolation and when installed with or without a separate boundary box; Figs. 5a-j illustrate further examples of containers and methods according to various embodiments of the present invention, both in isolation and when installed within a boundary box or used without a boundary box; Figs. 6a-c illustrate a yet further example of a container and an alternative method of storing a further length of cable within said container for later deployment; Fig. 7 is a sectional schematic view of a deployment of the present invention within a multistorey building; Fig. 8 is a schematic illustration of further embodiments of methods according to the present invention; and Figs. 9a-c are schematic cross-sections showing cables that can be deployed using the container and methods of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS As mentioned above, the present application discloses a container and methods for optimising cable deployment projects, particularly in the context of optical fibre cables to homes (FTTH) and other premises (FTTX). The methods disclosed herein can be deployed in a "homes passed" (primary) phase of installation, to yield efficiency gains during a subsequent "homes connected” (secondary) phase. The term "homes passed” as used herein is intended to refer to the process of deploying telecommunications or other infrastructure to any kind of customer premises or end points in the route (whether domestic or otherwise). In the primary phase, the network is extended to one or more demarcation points associated with a set of customers, thus creating a foundation for completion of connections to individual customer premises at a future date. The term "demarcation point” is used in conventional telephony wiring to refer to the point between cables or other infrastructure that are the property and responsibility of the network operator, and those that are the responsibility of the customer. With modern networks and regulatory structures, there may be a demarcation point between different commercial entities (contractors, installers, network operators or the like) as well as the end customer. In the present disclosure, the term "demarcation point” is used purely as a convenient term for the intermediate point to which the network is extended in a primary phase of deployment, and the user premises to which the network is extended at a later date in the secondary phase. Whilst fibre optic cables are discussed throughout the description, the invention is equally suitable for use with electrical (e.g. copper) cables and hybrid cables combining electrical and optical signals. The term cable is understood to encompass any type of cable, unless the context requires otherwise. While lightweight miniature optical cables are described as examples below, electrical cables with much larger diameters can be treated the same way, with cables, conduits, connectors, and enclosures all made larger, as appropriate. Fig. la is a schematic illustration of a first step in an initial "homes passed” (primary) phase of a telecommunications network deployment method in accordance with the present disclosure. A plurality of conduits lOOa-c are installed, over routes extending from a distribution point 102, such as a street cabinet, to demarcation points close to a number of customer premises 104. Typically, the premises will lie beyond a boundary 200 separating customers' property from the public realm. The conduits lOOa-c are typically plastic tubes known as microducts, characterised by outer diameters less than around 16 mm. For supplying individual premises, tubes with outer / inner diameters of 7 / 4 mm or 5 / 3.5 mm might be used, depending on the physical environment and the size of cable to be carried. These individual conduits may be arranged within the public realm within a larger duct 110, or installed individually or in bundles into an open trench along the desired route. (In multi-storey premises, the cable may be fixed into a vertical riser shaft, or onto an external wall). Whilst only three conduits lOOa-c are shown in Fig. la, in practice many more will be required for a typical neighbourhood. Tube bundles with for example twelve or 24 microducts are commercially available, from which individual tubes can be branched off to serve the different premises. Although described as a single conduit, it will be understood that "conduit” for present purposes means only an enclosed passage for guiding cables from one end to another. Such a conduit may be formed as a single continuous tube, or it may comprise two or more sections connected end to end so as to define a continuous passage. For example, where conduit 130 is branched from a tube bundle as described above, a branch section of the conduit may be connected to the end of a tube that has been cut out from the bundle to create the branch. The conduit in different sections may be different in its dimensions or composition. Also in this example, a series of boundaiy boxes 120 are located at demarcation points near the boundary 200, each associated with one of the customer premises 104. Although Fig. la shows one boundary box 120 per premises 104 for the purpose of clarity, a single boundary box 120 may serve two or more individual premises 104. (See also the example of Figure 8, described below.) As is shown more clearly in subsequent drawings, in this example a stub conduit 130 is connected to a customer-facing side of each boundary box 120 and terminates underground at the customer side of the boundary 200. It should be understood that customaiy practice as to the placement and form of the demarcation point varies between different territories, between different commercial and regulatory regimes, and between different types of installations. In the examples described below, the demarcation points are assumed to lie outside the premises boundary, which is typical in Europe. In other territories, such as the USA, the demarcation point may lie already inside the premises boundary. These differences are of course very important in commercial practice, but the technical features and methods disclosed herein are applicable in a wide range of cases. Conduit 100a extends to, and is terminated within, the boundary box 120 located furthest from the distribution point 102. Conduit 100b extends to, and is terminated within, the boundary box 120 corresponding to the middle customer premises 104. Conduit 100c extends to, and is terminated within, the boundary box 120 located nearest to the distribution point 102. In the illustrated example, no cable is installed in the conduits, at this stage. Conduits with pre-installed cables are available commercially if desired. Fig. lb is a schematic illustration showing a second step of the method, still within the primary phase of the project. In this step, cables 140 are installed within the respective conduits lOOa-c. These cables may for example be miniature, lightweight optical fibre cables, sometimes called microcables or nanocables. They may have diameters in the range below 4 mm, typically 1 to 3 mm. The cables may be optimised for installation by pushing and / or blowing and / or pulling into ducts as described for example in WO2023016835A1 or in UK Patent Application 2317454.3, not yet published at the present priority date. Cross-sections of some of these cables are reproduced below with reference to Fig. 9. The cables may be pre-terminated with partial optical ferrules, to simplify subsequent connection to customer equipment. The same or different connections can be provided at the distribution point 102, in a manner well known to the person skilled in the art. Each cable 140 in this example extends from distribution point 102 to its respective boundary box 120, and has a sufficient further length to reach through the stub conduit 130 and over a distance D to reach an expected connection point at the premises 104, as shown in dotted lines. On the other hand, the connection to the premises is not to be completed in the primary phase. This further length of the cable 140 is, for the time being, excess length and is merely stored within each boundary box 120 to complete the "homes passed" phase of cable deployment. The detail of storage of the cable 140 within the boundary box 120 in different example methods will be described below with reference to Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The circled portion A may be as shown and described in more detail below with reference to the example methods of Fig. 2a or Fig 3a. Furthermore, the example method of Fig. 3a may include storing cable within a container of the type, and via the method, illustrated in Figs. 6a-c. Advantageously, and as will be described in more detail subsequently in connection with Figs. 2a-c and Figs 3a-e, this arrangement means that an excess length of conduit lOOe sufficient to span the distance D (see dotted line extending from the boundary box 120 to the customer premises 104) is already provided within the boundary box. Furthermore, in these particular examples a stub conduit 130 is already connected to the boundary box 120 with its distal end located at or over the boundary 200. In this way, the distal end of the stub conduit can be accessible from within a customer’s property with no need for any further disruptive works (e.g. excavation) at the public side of the boundary. Using the method of Fig. 3, there may be no need even to open the boundary box to complete the customer connection. To facilitate the completion of a connection in the secondary phase at a later date, a locating device such as a flag or electromagnetic responder can be fitted to the end of the stub conduit. Fig. lc is a schematic illustration showing first step in the "homes connected” (secondary) phase of the cable deployment project in accordance with some examples. While we refer to this as a "phase" in a single project, the connection of individual premises may be performed one-by-one over a prolonged period, according to their individual customer demands. There is no requirement that connection be performed systematically to all premises, and premises need not be connected at the same time as their neighbours. In this step, a further conduit 150 (e.g. a micro duct robust enough to be buried in the ground) is installed, extending from the distal end of stub conduit 130 to the customer premises 104. The circled portion B is shown in more detail in Fig. 2b or 3b, according to which example method is being followed. Fig. Id is a schematic illustration showing a last step in which the secondary phase of the project is completed, at least with respect to one individual premises. By detailed steps that will be described in detail subsequently in association with Fig. 2c or Fig. 3c-e, the stored length of cable is moved from its stored position within the boundary box, firstly through the stub conduit 130 and then through the further conduit 150, until it reaches a termination point 160 that is now provided at the customer premises 104. The circled portion C is shown in more detail in Fig. 2c or Fig, 3c-e, depending which example method is being followed. As seen in Fig Id, a minor excess length of cable 140 can remain within the boundary box 120. Within the customer premises, the leading end of cable 140 can finally be completed with a connector body and connected, directly or indirectly, to the customer’s equipment 170. Advantageously, and as will be described in more detail subsequently, the only remaining task is to close the boundary box (if that has been opened) and to restore any ground excavated at the customer side of boundary 200. In certain regions, however, the boundary boxes are actually buried. In that case, where the method of Fig.2a-c has been used, there may have been excavation at the public side of the boundary as well. With the method of Fig. 3a-e, the need to access and open the boundary box is eliminated, as will be described further below. The container and methods of the present invention thereby minimise disruptive works thereby reducing the time, effort and costs associated with completion of the “homes connected’’ (secondary) phase of a network deployment. Figs. 2a-c are cross-sectional schematic illustrations showing a boundary box 120 at a demarcation point associated with one or more customer premises and exemplifying methods of storing and subsequently deploying cable 140 according to a comparative example, in steps moving progressively from an initial "homes passed’’ (primary) phase (Fig. 2a) to a final "homes connected" (secondary) status (Fig. 2c). In the illustrated example, the demarcation point is adjacent a hard boundary feature in the form of a kerbstone with a concrete base. As shown in Fig. 2a, the boundary box 120 is recessed within the ground such that an upper surface of its lid 122 is arranged to lie substantially coplanar with a surrounding surface S, e.g. of paving. A boundary box provides an internal volume typically used as a maintenance point for accommodating the end of a sealed microduct for future extension to a customer premises, and optionally for housing IP65 or IP68 splice enclosures. When the lid is exposed as shown, access to equipment within the boundary box is relatively straightforward. In some instances, however, the lid 122 is recessed below the surrounding surface S, e.g. by being wholly or partially covered by paving, or simply lost in accumulated dirt or undergrowth. For such cases, clearing and / or excavation may be required to access and open the boundary box in the present example, but this is required in conventional methods also. In the illustrated example, the boundary box 120 is provided with an inlet 120i through which an incoming conduit 100 is introduced. It will be understood that the incoming conduit 100 can be the specific conduit 100b used as an example in the description of Figs, la-d, or any of the conduits through which a cable 140 is to be directed to a specific premises 104. The inlet 12Oi is sealed against the external environment in a conventional manner. A cable 140, including its leading end 145, has been installed through the incoming conduit 100 by a suitable method, for example pushing, pulling, or blowing. An excess length of cable 140 is retained within the boundary box 120 in a coiled fashion, either loosely or around a reel or similar, for possible future use. Optionally, the excess length of cable 140 is stored within a plastic bag or other suitable container to protect it against moisture and other contamination. Special protection is provided for the leading end of the cable, especially when a partial connector has been pre-installed. A stub conduit 130 has its proximal end 130a connected to an outlet 120e of the boundary box 120. The outlet 120e may conveniently be located at a side of the boundary box arranged closest to the boundary 200, but the stub conduit can follow a more convoluted path if necessary. The stub conduit 130 extends across the boundary 200 below ground such that its distal end 130d is located on the customer side of the boundary 200. To install the stub conduit in the primary phase, a hole has been drilled through the concrete base of the kerbstone 202. Performing such drilling and excavation in the primary phase greatly simplifies operations in the illustrated secondary phase. A gas and / or moisture tight end cap 130s is located on said distal end 130d to prevent gas and / or moisture ingress into the boundary box 120. A location marker 1301, such as an electromagnetic or radio-frequency marker, or other suitable traceable element has been provided on said distal end 130d to facilitate location of the distal end 130d of the stub conduit 130 via a detector 210. The location marker 1301 may also, for example, take the form of a metal washer, radio-frequency marker, or other traceable device installed within the boundary box (e.g. on its lid 122) to enable it to be traced in the event that it becomes concealed, either accidentally or deliberately. A visual marker could alternatively be provided at the surface, if preferred. Alternatively, the location of the stub conduit may be recorded accurately enough to be found reliably, for example by measurement from the boundary box. As mentioned already, in some territories, the ground (e.g. a pavement) is resurfaced with the boundary box concealed beneath as a matter of course. A marker of some sort, for example a metal washer, can be included in the boundary box lid 122. To complete the customer connection to a telecommunications network, the following steps are taken. Firstly, the distal end 130d of the stub conduit 130 is located via the detector 210. As shown in Fig. 2b, the ground is excavated to expose the distal end 130d of the stub conduit 130. A further length of conduit 140 is laid between the point of excavation E and the customer premises 104 (see Fig. 1c), and is connected to the distal end 130d of the stub conduit 130. The connection between the conduits 130,140 is made good using a suitable coupling well known in the art. Incidentally, while all conduits in these examples are shown having equal diameters, this is not necessary. Conduits with different inner and / or outer diameters can be readily connected using commercially available reducing couplers. As shown in Fig. 2c, the lid 122 of the boundary box 120 is removed to provide access to the excess length of cable 140 stored therein. A leading end 145 of the excess length of cable 140 is introduced into the stub conduit 130 and moved along, via the further conduit 150, before exiting at the customer premises 104 ready for final connection to a customer terminal 170 (see Fig. Id). A minor part of the excess cable 140 may remain coiled within the boundary box 120. The point of excavation E is refilled and the lid 122 replaced on the boundary box to complete the connection to this particular premises. Figs. 3a-e are cross-sectional schematic illustrations showing a boundary box 120 at a demarcation point associated with one or more customer premises and exemplifying methods of storing and subsequently dispensing or deploying conduit 100 according to a further example method, moving progressively from an initial "homes passed” phase (Fig. 3a) to a final "homes connected” status (Fig. 3e). Corresponding features have the same reference signs as in the example of Fig. 2a-c. As shown in Fig. 3a, the boundary box 120 is recessed within the ground such that an upper surface of its lid 122 is arranged to lie substantially coplanar with a surrounding surface S, e.g. of paving. In this example, however, we will see that it is immaterial whether the boundary box is exposed or buried under a higher surface S'. The structure of the boundary box 120 and its inlet 120i and outlet 120e is otherwise identical to that previously described above in association with Fig. 2a. The arrangement of Fig. 3a differs from that of Fig. 2a in two ways. First, substantially the entire excess length of cable 140 is located in the boundary box 120 but also within a special container 300 from which it can be withdrawn without opening the boundary box. The container 300 may for example be of the type described in detail below in association with Figs. 4a-c or 5a-d or 6a-c. Second, a minor portion of the excess length of cable 140 has been introduced into the stub conduit 130 and moved therethrough such that its leading end 145 is located at the customer side of the boundary 200. A minor further difference is that the distal end 130d of stub conduit 130 in this example is connected to end cap 130s via a short auxiliaiy stub conduit 132 and a connector 134. This end cap and auxiliaiy stub conduit are used for storing the leading end 145 of the cable 140, for access at a later time. As shown in inset detail, connector 134 can include additional functional components such as a clamp 136 to prevent axial movement of the cable end due to thermal expansion and contraction, or other disturbance. Another component is a seal 138 that provides additional sealing (with the seal 130s) by protecting against gas and moisture ingress from the container 300 and / or the boundary box 120 into the auxiliary stub conduit 310. The connector thereby serves to fully protect the leading end 145 of the excess cable 140 (which may be in the form of a pre-terminated fibre) over a potential prolonged time period prior to finalising a connection to the customer premises. The connector 304 having these additional features may be reused following a connection to the customer premises, or it may be replaced by a new connector. As seen in Fig. 3a, when a customer requires connection to a telecommunications network at a later date, some of the steps similar to those described above in association with Figs. 2b and 2c are performed. Firstly, the distal end 130d of the stub conduit 130 where the leading end 145 of cable 140 has been stored during the earlier "homes passed” (primary) phase is located via the detector 210. As shown in Fig. 3b, the ground is excavated to expose the distal end 130d of the stub conduit 130, and the end cap 130s is removed from its distal end 13Od to expose the leading end 145 of the cable 140. In the illustrated example, removing the short auxiliary stub conduit 302 along with the end cap ensures that a sufficient length of the cable is reliably exposed. If the connector 304 includes a clamping or sealing function on the cable, this is also removed, so that the cable is free to move axially in the next step. A further length of conduit 150 is laid between the point of excavation E and the customer premises 104, as also shown in Fig. 3b. As shown in Fig. 3c, a further length of cable 140 sufficient to span the distance between the point of excavation E and a connection point at a customer premises 104 is drawn through the stub conduit 130 leaving only a minor part of the excess length of cable 140 remaining within the container 300 located in the boundary box 120. As shown in Fig. 3d, the leading end 145 of the cable 140 is introduced into the proximal end of further conduit 150 and all of it is progressively moved therethrough. This step can be performed concurrently with drawing the length of cable from the container, or only afterwards, as illustrated. In order to facilitate a sealed connection between the distal end 130d of the stub conduit 130 and a proximal end 150a of the further conduit 150, the cable in this example also passes through new connectors 152 and 154 and a short bridging conduit 156. One or other of the new connectors 152 and 154 may be the connector 134 that was removed earlier, or a new connector of the same type or a different type. As shown in Fig. 3e, the leading end 145 of cable eventually exits the further conduit near a connection point at a customer premises 104, ready for final connection to a customer terminal 170 (see Fig. Id). The further cable conduit 150 is connected to the distal end 130d of the stub conduit 130, via the new connectors 152 and 154 and a bridging conduit 156. To complete the works, the point of excavation E at the customer side of boundary 200 is then refilled to complete the "homes connected" (secondary) phase of the deployment project. The connection between the conduits 130 and 150 can of course be made good in any suitable manner well known in the art. As mentioned, the illustrated examples are based on a pushable cable and on pushing the cable from the boundary to move it through the further conduit 150 to the premises. In another example, a pulling cord (not shown) may be pre-installed in the further duct 150, and the steps of Fig. 4c, 4d and 4e can be simplified and combined. In such a method, the conduits 130 and 150 can be connected together after the leading end 145 of the cable is attached to a trailing end of the pulling cord. After that, the cable can be pulled in one step from the container 300 all the way to the premises. Advantageously, the special container 300 and method steps illustrated within Figs. 3a-e may entirely obviate the need to perform works on the public side of the boundary (e.g. including locating and accessing the interior of the boundary box 120) during the secondary phase of the deployment project. This is because everything required to complete a connection to the customer has previously been provisioned on the customer side of the boundary during the initial primary phase. No further disruptive works are required within the public realm side of the boundary 200, and the ready availability of the leading end 145 of the excess length of cable 140 at the customer side of the boundary further reduces the time, effort and costs associated with completion of the secondary phase of a network deployment. It will be appreciated that the arrangement of Figs. 3a-e means that the boundary box 120 and / or the container (if used without a boundary box) may be buried or otherwise concealed (e.g. beneath a paving surface S) following completion of the primary phase, because access to it is not likely to be required for the subsequent completion of a network connection to a customer premises at a later date. Indeed, in some countries or regions, it is common or mandatory for boundary boxes to be buried or otherwise concealed. In those countries or regions it is normally necessary to locate and excavate to gain access to the boundary box for completion of a customer connection. The container and methods of the present disclosure avoid the need to do so. Even in a case where the boundary box is freely accessible, as illustrated in Fig. 2a-c, opening it and working there may cause at least temporary obstruction to pedestrian or other traffic in the public realm. Fig. 4a shows a first example of a container 300 suitable for use in the method for Fig. 3a-e. Fig. 4b is a schematic plan view of the container 300 installed in a boundary box as described above. A "transparent” view of the container 300 in Fig. 4c shows how the interior of container 300 is free of any core or other obstructions and provides an enclosed substantially cylindrical cable storage space, V. The container 300 in this example is formed in two substantially circular parts, namely a base 310 and a lid 320. An upstanding circumferential perimeter wall 330 is provided on each of the base 310 and lid 320. The respective perimeter walls 330 are aligned and connected together in the direction of a central axis X to form a perimeter structure defining the cable storage space, V, as mentioned in the introduction above. A clasp 340 or other suitable locking means is provided to lock the perimeter walls 330 of the parts 310, 320 with respect to one another to avoid their inadvertent disengagement axially and / or movement circumferentially relative to the axis X. An O-ring or other suitable seal (not shown) may be provided between the adjoining perimeter walls 330 to minimise or eliminate gas and / or moisture ingress. A cable inlet 350 is provided on the perimeter wall 330 of the base 310. The cable inlet 350 includes a first tubular cable guide 360 extending tangentially away from the circumferentially extending perimeter wall 330. A proximal end of this first tubular cable guide opens into the cable storage space V at a peripheral location. An opening by which the inlet 350 communicates with the cable storage space V may be termed the inlet opening 354. A cable outlet 370 is provided on the lid 320. The cable outlet 370 includes a curved tubular cable guide 380 the proximal end of which is directed along the axis X and the distal end of which is directed substantially perpendicularly with respect to the axis X. The tubular cable guide 380 has a radius of curvature along its length between said proximal and distal ends. A proximal end of this curved tubular cable guide 380 opens into the cable storage space V at a central location. An opening by which the outlet 370 communicates with the cable storage space V may be termed the outlet opening 374. Opposite this opening, the flat interior wall 312 of the base serves as the deflecting structure, in this example. The cable storage space V, and therefore the coil itself, have dimensions of length and width that are much greater than their height (in the orientation illustrated). It will be understood that a stored length of cable in this example will lie in a generally flat coil against the planar base wall 312. When we define a reference plane as one that is generally parallel to the coil (i.e. parallel to those longer dimensions), it will be seen how the cable outlet 370 including the second tubular cable guide 380 is configured to guide a length of cable out of the cable storage space from a central location along a curved path that begins in a direction perpendicular to the reference plane (parallel to axis X), and ends in an outlet direction generally parallel to said plane (perpendicular to axis X). Advantageously, the container 300 may be used in the method depicted throughout Figs, 3a-e to store an excess length of cable 140 during a primary phase of a network deployment and, at a later date, to dispense the length of cable 140 as part of a secondary phase. As previously described above in relation to Fig. 3a, substantially the entire excess length of cable 140 is stored in the boundary box 120 within the storage cable container 300, and a minor part of the excess length of cable 140 is stored into the stub conduit 130 such that its leading end 145 is located at the customer side of the boundary 200. In alternative examples, mentioned below, a part for storing the leading end 145 of the stored cable is integrated with the outlet, rather than a separate stub conduit. Completion of the primary phase involves coiling the excess length of cable 140 into the cable storage space V, while leaving the minor part, including the leading end 145, projecting from the second aperture. Different ways of loading the container 300 can be envisaged. One way involves firstly manually introducing the leading end 145 of an excess length of cable 140 into the container 300 in the direction of the entrance arrow in Fig. 4a, via the first tubular cable guide 360 associated with the cable inlet 350. The base 310 and a lid 320 are then separated (or they may be separated prior to introduction of the excess length of cable 140 via the cable inlet 350). The leading end 145 of the cable 140 is then manually introduced into the second tubular cable guide 380 associated with the cable outlet 370 along the direction of the axis X. The curvature of the tubular cable guide 380 in this example redirects the leading end 145 of the cable 140 such that it exits at the cable outlet 370 in a direction which is perpendicular with respect to the axis X as shown by the exit arrow in Fig. 4a. The base 310 and lid 320 are then reconnected and optionally locked together via clasp 340. At this point, it will normally be unnecessary to re-open the container 300 at any time up to and including completion of a future customer connection. As an alternative to opening the container to feed the cable through the apertures, a pull cord could be preinstalled. Such an arrangement allows the container 300 to be factory-sealed, if desired. An excess length of cable 140 is then manually drawn through the first and second cable inlet / outlet 350, 370 of the container 300. The excess length of cable 140 is of a predetermined length sufficient to span a distance between the boundary box 120 and the customer premises 104. Typical lengths may range from around 5 metres to around 40 metres. With a larger container, of course, lengths in excess of 100 m or 150 m can be accommodated. Once the predetermined excess length of cable 140 has been drawn through the container 300, a major part of the excess length of cable 140 is then manually reintroduced back into the container 300 by feeding it back through cable outlet 370 as indicated by the re-entry arrow in Fig. 4a. Whilst doing so, the cable at the cable inlet 350 remains static thereby causing the re-introduced excess length of cable 140 to be retained within the cable-receiving volume V. More specifically, as the reintroduced cable progressively enters the cable storage space V within the container from the second tubular cable guide 380, a base wall of the container, positioned opposite the central location where the outlet 370 opens into the cable storage space, forms a deflecting structure. This deflecting structure deflects the cable radially outwards away from the axis X to lie against or towards the internal surface of the circumferential perimeter wall 330. As more of cable 140 re-enters the cable storage space V of the container, it is progressively pushed towards, and coiled circumferentially along and around, the circumferential perimeter wall 330 by virtue of its inherent stiffness and resilience, and its natural coiling preference. The tendency of the excess cable 140 to exhibit a natural coiling preference reduces the risk of tangling or snagging during subsequent dispensing or deploying of the cable from the container 300. When the excess length of cable 140 is formed into a coil by feeding it in through the outlet 370, the outlet opening 374 serves as a "feed opening", as that term is used in the introduction and claims. In other examples, described below, the inlet opening 354 is configured to serve as the feed opening, instead of, or as well as, the outlet opening. The preferred construction and method may differ according to the total length to be stored, and the dimensions and stiffness of the cable. A certain stiffness of the cable is required for it to support itself in an orderly coil, rather than falling under its own weight into the central part of the cable storage space. The skilled person can readily judge whether a cable is stiff enough, because a free end of the cable will typically be able to support its own weight enough to span a distance greater than the diameter of the storage space. Of course, the stiffness should not be so great that the cable cannot be coiled in the cable storage space without undue force or damage. For the above examples, it is assumed that the cable is of a type optimised for installation by a pushing method. In other applications, for example, a cable optimised for pulling and / or blowing might favour a different method. A smaller diameter storage space (or smaller perimeter structure within the same storage space) may be suitable for a lighter cable having a lower stiffness, but not sufficient to span the larger storage space with a self-supporting coil. In another example, a wider opening may be provided initially to allow a coil of cable to be fed more easily into a captive coil. An inlet part carrying the inlet 370 can then be added, to close the wider opening. The wider opening may be part of the base part 310, while the lid 320 forms the inlet part. The main requirement is that the cable can be withdrawn from the container at a later time, regardless of how it was loaded in. By feeding the cable into the storage space in the way described, a reliable paying out is assured. (This reliable payout would generally not be achieved by pre-coiling the cable in a more conventional manner outside the container, and then loading it in.) As will be illustrated with reference to Figure 6, with a suitable arrangement of openings the same benefit may be obtained by causing the excess length of cable to coil while being fed in through the inlet opening, without first drawing it out and then reintroducing it through the outlet. In some examples, the outlet 370 including the curved tubular cable guide 380 is rotatable relative to the axis, enabling the outlet direction to lead in an optimal direction, e.g. towards the outlet 120e of a boundary box 120, as shown schematically in Fig. 4b. There are different ways to achieve this. One way is to provide a circular join 372 between a main part of the lid 320 and an outlet part that carries the outlet 370. This join 372 can perform one or more of the optional functions mentioned above. As a first function, the join 372 can permit the outlet part, and hence the outlet direction, to rotate to different angles around the axis X. In other examples, this function could be performed by making the whole of lid 320, including the outlet 370, rotatable to different orientations on the base 310. As another function, if the outlet part is completely separable from the main part of the lid, the circular join 372 can define the wider opening 374, mentioned above, for easier insertion of the cable 140 to be stored. In other examples, this wider opening could be formed by giving the perimeter wall 330 of the base a re-entrant form, the cable being inserted progressively so as to form a coil, before the lid 320 and outlet 370 are fitted to close the container. As seen in the drawings, the inner wall of the container at the central location (axis X) where the cable outlet opens into the cable storage space may be funnel-shaped so as to allow space for the cable to bend away from the axis X as it enters or leaves the container. The funnel shape may be designed to maintain a desired minimum bend radius. This protects the cable in case of snagging, or accidentally pulling beyond the stored length of cable. If desired, the deflecting structure opposite this opening may also be profiled, to assist in deflecting the cable away from the axis X when cable is being fed in. Such features are readily optimised by testing with the desired volume and type of cable. Whichever method is used to coil the excess length of cable within the container, a minor part of the length cable 140 including the leading end 145 is stored safely but accessibly outside the container 300, for example by being introduced into the stub conduit 130 (see Fig. 3aj. The leading end 145 is moved through the stub conduit 130 such that it is positioned therein at the customer side of the boundary 200 ready for a potential future connection to a customer premises as previously described in association with Figs. 3b-e. The container 300 may optionally be attached to a suitable fixing point within the boundary box 120, and its tubular cable guide 380 rotated relative to the axis X such that the cable outlet 370 faces substantially toward the boundary box outlet 120e. As illustrated in Fig. 4d, in some examples the cable inlet and outlet of the container may include tubular cable guides 360, 380 that can be mechanically connected to incoming and / or outgoing conduits at the boundary box inlet 120i and / or outlet 120e. Such an arrangement can be used to provide a fully sealed system along the full length of the cable 140, and hence eliminate (or at least reduce) the possibility of moisture ingress, or contamination therein. Fig. 4e illustrates a further example in which the container 300 itself, once connected to the incoming and outgoing conduits 100 and 130, is sufficiently robust that that it can be installed at the demarcation point without the additional protection of a boundary box at all. The container 300 maybe ruggedised and / or wrapped / encased with flexible sealants, which provide sufficient protection for it to be directly buried in the earth. Providing a factory-sealed container with a pulling line as described above should minimise the amount of sealing that has to be performed in the field. While the container is installed below ground in these illustrated examples, the container can equally be installed at an aerial location, such as on a utility pole or wall. Conversely, in a more benign environment, for example utility spaces within an apartment building, the container may not need to be significantly ruggedised in order to be used without a separate boundary box. Figs. 5a-b shows a second example of a container 1300, with parts labelled with reference signs prefixed ‘1’ relative to the like-numbered parts in the container 300 example of Fig. 4a-d. The structure and operation of container 1300 can be identical to those of the container 300 in all respects with the exception that the cable outlet 1370 has no curved tubular cable guide. Instead, the cable outlet 1370 is formed in the lid 1320 and extends straight in the direction of the axis X. By the provision of a circular join 1372 or otherwise, a wider opening can be provided, as described above. Optionally, a short, straight tubular cable guide 1380 can be provided, particularly if it is desired to couple the cable outlet mechanically to an outgoing conduit. As can be seen, this arrangement can be useful where the outgoing conduit 150 is desired to run perpendicular to the direction of the incoming conduit, or where there are space considerations within the boundary box 120. Figures 5c and 5d illustrate schematically alternative examples in which the cable storage space V can be defined with different shapes. In particular a tapered form can be advantageous for guiding and maintaining the coiled cable (not shown) in a stable position. In Fig. 5c, a perimeter structure 332 inside the container 300 defines a frustoconical storage space, rather than the simple cylinder of the previous drawings. In Fig. 5d the perimeter structure 332 defines a curved taper. While the perimeter structure 332 is illustrated here as something formed separately within a container body that is still a straight cylinder, in other examples, the container as a whole may have a tapered shape, so that the outer walls 330 and the perimeter structure 332 are the same part. Another option with the tapered form of perimeter structure is that the narrower mouth of the retaining structure can optionally serve as the wider opening, mentioned above in relation to Fig. 4. The outlet part can be fitted into or over the tapered perimeter structure that defines the cable storage space. Fig. 5e shows schematically how the perimeter structure 332 of container 300 need not define the cable storage space V to have a simple circular or oval form. The storage space in this example has two circular sub-spaces that communicate with one another around the central location where cable 140 passes from the cable storage space into the cable outlet 370. As in the case of a circular space, the natural stiffness of the cable causes it to be deflected towards the perimeter structure as it is fed through outlet 370 into the container. With this alternative shape of storage space, however, the cable is guided into a figure-of-eight coil, as shown, instead of a simple circle. As in the case of a circular coil, because the coil is formed naturally by feeding the cable progressively into the storage space at a central location, it can be paid out reliably simply by pulling progressively. Figs. 5f and 5g illustrate a modified container 1400. It will be seen that the form of this container is almost identical to container 300 of Fig. 4a. Features of container 1400 are given the same reference signs as features of container 300, but with prefix '3’ changed to '14’. So, the base part 1410 illustrated in Fig. 5f and 5g is the same as base part 310, and so on. The main difference between container 1400 and container 300 is that the outlet 1470 is provided with an end part 1490 in which the leading end 145 of the cable 140 can be stored, without use of a separate stub conduit. This end part can be implemented in many different forms. In the illustration, this end part 1490 has the form of an end cap that can be fitted to the distal end of the tubular cable guide 1480 of outlet 1470. A split collar 1492 is fitted around the cable 140 behind the partial connector. When the end part 1490 is coupled to the tubular cable guide 1480, this split collar functions as a retaining structure to prevent the leading end of the cable falling back into the storage space. As seen in Fig. 5g, this modified end part serves initially to store and protect the leading end and partial connector, but can be removed to allow access to the leading end 145 to complete a cable connection at a later date. Instead of a separately-formed end cap, end part 1490 can be formed integrally with the tubular cable guide 1480 or other form of outlet 1470, to be broken off or cut off to gain access. While it is assumed in the above examples that a single length of cable is coiled in each container, it is possible in principle to store two, three or more cables in a shared cable storage space. Provided they are fed into the storage space progressively and in unison and withdrawn from the storage space in unison, they can be withdrawn progressively and in unison. This may be useful for example where three electric power cables are to be deployed in parallel. Fig. 5h shows a variant of the methods described above, in which stored length of cable 140 is accessed and withdrawn from the container using a pulling accessory 148 attached to the leading end 145 of the cable 140. This example is illustrated in the container 1400 of Figs. 5f and 5g, but could be implemented similarly with any of the example containers 300, stub conduits 130 and so forth. As can be seen in the drawing, a leading end of the pulling accessory 148 is stored in the end part 1490 of the outlet 1470, while the leading end 145 of the cable 140 itself is some distance behind, either in the tubular cable guide 1480 (or stub conduit 130) or back in the cable storage space V of the container. A suitable retaining structure keeps the leading end of the pulling accessory from falling back into the container. In this example, the same split collar 1492 is illustrated as a retaining structure. Of course, any suitable way of retaining the pulling accessory can be used, such as a hook, crimp, adhesive etc.. Provided that the pulling accessory is secured to the end of the cable 140 and the whole assembly is flexible enough to pass out through the outlet when pulled, the modified arrangement will function in the same way and with all the benefits mentioned above. After retrieving the leading end of the cable 140, the pulling accessory can either be removed and discarded, or it can be left on the cable and used for pulling the cable 140 through the further conduit 150. In examples where a pulling line is used to draw the cable 140 through the container, the same pulling accessoiy 148 can be used for both operations. The same pulling accessory may even be configured to serve as that pulling line, pre-installed in the container. Fig. 5i illustrates another example of a method of storing the cable using (for example) the container 1400. Rather than storing the leading end 145 of the cable 140 in an end part of the cable outlet 1470, or in a stub conduit 130, the leading end of the cable is simply coiled on the outside of the container. Optionally, environmental protection (not shown) may be added, for example by fitting a lid or wrapping the container before it is left in the environment at the demarcation point. Fig 5j illustrates another example based on a modified container 1500. Features of container 1500 are given the same reference signs as features of container 300, but with prefix '3’ changed to '15'. So, the base part 1510 illustrated in Fig. 5j corresponds to base part 310, and so on. The base part 1510 of this container has a partially closed top side, defining an opening 1574. This opening corresponds for example to the "wider opening" 374 mentioned in the examples above. After the suitable length of cable 140 has been fed through this opening 1574 and has coiled itself within the cable storage space V, a leading end 145 of the cable is kept outside that space and secured to the container body. (Alternatively, of course, a pulling accessoiy 148 can be used, while the leading end of the cables itself remains within the cable storage space.) As in the example of Fig. 5i, the container 1500 with the stored length of cable 140 can be sealed against the environment with a wrapping or a lid. A plain lid 1522 can be added, for example. Optionally, a lid 1520' incorporating an outlet part 1570’ similar to the ones described above can be provided. This outlet part can be added to close the container when it is stored after completion of a primary phase of deployment. Alternatively, the outlet part can be added only after the container and cable 140 are accessed at a later date, to complete the connection to a premises 104. The overall part count may be increased in such an example, but the container in the form in which it is left after the primary phase of deployment can be cheaper and simpler. The decision whether the outlet part is required may depend on whether the container is located within a relatively benign environment (such as a boundary box or utility space of a building), rather than being exposed to the elements below or above ground. Figs. 6a-c show a series of schematic sectional views of a further example of a modified container 2300 suitable for use in the method of Figs. 3a-e. Though presented schematically on Figs. 6a-c, the form of container 2300 may be almost identical to container 300 of Fig. 4a, save for one key difference which is described below. Therefore, features of container 2300 are given the same reference signs as corresponding features of container 300, but with prefix ‘3’ changed to '23. For example, the base part 2310 illustrated in Fig. 6a corresponds to base part 310 in Fig. 4a, and so on. The key difference between container 2300 and container 300 is that its cable inlet 2350 and its associated first tubular cable guide 2360 is provided, not on the perimeter wall 2330, but instead extends centrally through the base 2310 along (or near to) axis X and hence opposite the cable outlet 2370 provided on the lid 2320. A proximal end of the first tubular cable guide 2360 opens into the cable storage space V at the central location along axis X as previously described with respect to Fig. 4a. The cable outlet 2370 includes, as before, a curved tubular cable guide 2380 which may be rotatable with respect to the container lid 2320. The first tubular cable guide 2360 may be in the form of a short stub for connecting to an incoming conduit 100 which, though not illustrated in Figs. 6a-c, may be introduced through an inlet of a boundary box. In an alternative example (not shown), the cable inlet 2350 may be an aperture without any associated tubular cable guide 2360. Conversely, in another example (not shown), the first tubular cable guide 2360 may be curved (and possibly rotatable) in like manner to the curved tubular cable guide 2380 of the cable outlet 2370. The two halves of the container and accessories may be completely symmetrical in such cases, simplifying manufacture. The parts designated 'inlet' and 'outlet' may then be completely interchangeable, up to the point of use. The cable inlet 2350 and the cable outlet 2370 communicate with the cable storage space V via internal openings 2354 and 2374. Whatever specific forms of tubular cable guides are provided externally of the cable storage space, these openings 2354 and 2374 in the examples of Fig. 6 are positioned substantially facing one another, on opposite sides of the cable storage space V. As illustrated, the openings 2354 and 2374 may be perfectly aligned with one another along the axis X. In other examples, one or both of these openings may be slightly offset from the axis X, while still being located toward the centre and not the periphery of the cable storage space. Advantageously, the container 2300 may be used in the method depicted throughout Figs, 3a-e to store an excess length of cable 140 during a "homes passed” (primary) phase of a network deployment and, at a later date, to dispense the length of cable 140 as part of a "homes connected” (secondary) phase. As previously described above in relation to Fig. 3a, substantially the entire excess length of cable 140 is stored within the storage cable container 2300, and a minor part of the excess length of cable 140 is stored into the stub conduit 130 such that its leading end 145 is located at the customer side of the boundary 200. In alternative examples, a part for storing the leading end 145 of the stored cable may be integrated with the cable outlet 2370, rather than within a separate stub conduit. As seen at (b) and (c) of Fig. 6, completion of the primary phase involves coiling the excess length of cable 140 into the cable storage space V, while leaving the minor part including the leading end 145 projecting from, or accessible at, the cable outlet 2370. Axial alignment of the openings 2354 and 2374 in this example simplifies the loading of a coiled excess length of cable 140 into the cable storage space V of the container 2300. Firstly, in like manner to the container 300 of Fig. 4a, the leading end 145 of an excess length of cable 140 is manually introduced into the container 2300 in the direction of the entrance arrow in Figs. 6a and 6b, via the first tubular cable guide 2360 associated with the cable inlet 2350. As illustrated, because the openings 2354 and 2374 are facing one another, it may be possible for the leading end 145 of the cable 140 to be threaded through both the cable inlet 2350 and cable outlet 2370 without the need to open the container 2300, and without the need to employ a pull cord. Thus the method shown in Fig. 6 can be performed without opening the container, if desired, and without any pre-installed pull-cord. If the container has been opened, the base 2310 and lid 2320 are then reconnected. Atthis point, it will normally be unnecessary to re-open the container 2300 at any time up to and including completion of a future customer connection. Where the cable can be fed through the cable inlet and cable outlet without opening the container, the container 2300 can be factory-sealed. Fig. 6b shows how coiling of the excess length of cable 140 can be initiated simply by arresting the cable 140 where it exits the second tubular cable guide 2380. For example, the leading portion of the cable 140 may be manually grasped towards its leading end, and near to and / or against the distal end of the second tubular cable guide 2380, to temporarily prevent any further length of cable 140 from exiting the second tubular cable guide 2380. Alternatively, the leading portion of the cable 140 may be clamped, adhered or otherwise temporarily mechanically held or restrained at or near the point at which it exits from the second tubular cable guide 2380. In one such example, an end part such as the end cap 1490 illustrated in Fig. 5g may be fitted to the distal end of the second tubular cable guide 2380 thus serving to block further translation of the cable 140 therethrough, and potentially can also be used to store the leading end 145 of the cable 140 until the subsequent "homes connected” phase of a network deployment. Whilst the leading portion of the cable 140 is restrained and remains static as described above, a further length of cable 140 is then introduced, either manually or by a pushing or blowing machine, through the cable inlet 2350 of the container 2300 in the direction of the entrance arrow in Fig. 6b. As shown in Fig. 6b, as a further length of cable 140 initially enters the cable storage space V within the container 2300 from the first tubular cable guide 2360, it is caused to flex radially outwards away from the axis X. Eventually, a loop of the cable 140 will engage the inside wall of lid 2320, which surrounds the opening 2374. The inside wall then serves as a deflecting structure while feeding in of the cable continues, guiding the cable so that it forms into a coil constrained by the perimeter wall 2330 of the container. At the conclusion of this simple operation, as seen in Fig. 6c, a major part of the excess length of cable 140 is stored within the container 2300. The major part of the excess length of cable is of a predetermined length sufficient to span a distance between the container 2300 (and any associated surrounding boundary box 120, if present) and the customer premises 104. It will be appreciated that other optional features of the container already described above with respect to the embodiments of Figs. 4a-e and 5a-g may, unless the context dictates otherwise, also be incorporated into the modified container of Figs. 6a-c. It will also be appreciated that the above method of storing a length of cable 140 within the modified container 2300 of Figs. 6a-c avoids the necessity to firstly draw the entire length of excess cable 140 through both the cable inlet and cable outlet, before subsequently reintroducing a major part of the excess length of cable back into the cable storage space V via the cable outlet. This simplified method of initially loading the container 2300 improves overall efficiency during the initial "homes passed” phase of a network deployment. On the other hand, the container 2300 is adaptable to such modes of use, according to preference or necessity in the field. The container 2300 can be used in methods the same as described above with reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, where the excess length of cable 140 is passed through the container before being fed back in through the outlet 2370. When feeding back in through the outlet, the wall of the base 2310 of the container 2300, located opposite the opening 2374, serves as the primary deflecting structure to cause coiling of the incoming cable. As illustrated, the cable 140 emerges from an incoming conduit 100, where the leading end 145 of the cable may then be introduced by pushing into the container via cable inlet 2350. In other methods, the conduit 100 may be already connected to cable inlet 2350 using connector 12 Oi, so that the cable passes automatically through the container as part of the same pushing (or blowing) operation by which it is transported from the distribution point 102. In that case, the entire path of the cable can be sealed against the environment, before the cable is installed. In another variant of the method, the tubular guide 2360 is connected to the incoming conduit after threading the leading end 145 through the container, but before pushing the excess length of cable through the incoming conduit so that it coils within the cable storage space V. Fig. 7 schematically illustrates the deployment of conduits and cables within a multi-storey building 400 via a tube bundle 110 extending from a building distribution point 102. As shown, premises on the first, second and third floors 410,420, 430 of the building 400 have a completed customer connection made via respective further conduits 150, whereas the ground, fourth and fifth floors 401, 440, 450 of the building 400 are not yet connected. Instead of being located below ground level, the boundary boxes 120, or containers 300 with or without separate boundary boxes 120, may be provided on an external wall of the building 400, or they may be located within a utility riser space within the building structure. The operation of the container and performance of the method steps is otherwise the same as previously described. Instead of avoiding excavation in the public realm, the methods disclosed herein are deployed to minimise or eliminate the need for installers to work at elevated positions, or in restricted utility spaces, to complete the customer connection. When special containers such as the containers 300 / 1300 / 1400 / 2300 are deployed following the method of Figs. 3a-e, the need to access the boundary box or container after the primary phase of deployment is completely eliminated. The variant containers and methods described with reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 can be adapted to in-building installations. Fig. 8 illustrates a different method of deployment, still based on the principles of the examples described above. As described in relation to Figs. la-Id above, a number of premises 104 and 104' are to be connected to a distribution point 102. In this example, however, each demarcation point serves multiple premises, through cables strung from utility poles 500 and 500’. In the upper part of the drawing, we see utility pole 500 and premises 104 in a "homes passed” condition. Utility pole 500 may sometimes be provided already as part of a copper-based network, and may be connected to the premises 104 by conventional copper telephone wires, shown in broken lines. In the lower part of the drawing, we see utility pole 500' and premises 104' in a "homes connected” condition. As in the earlier examples, a conduit 100 extends from distribution point 102 to a demarcation point where a container 300 / 1300 / 1400 / 2300 has been installed, either above or below ground. A cable 140 extends through the conduit 100 and into the container through its inlet. An excess length of cable is stored in a coil within the container, using one of the methods described above. Instead of being dedicated to a single customer premises 104, however, this cable 140 is a distribution cable carrying optical signals for all the premises 104 to a common demarcation point. It is common for one duplex fibre optic cable to serve 24 or even 32 customers. The stored excess length of cable is sufficient in this example to extend a distance D to a point near the top of the utility pole 500. In a secondary phase of deployment, as illustrated in the bottom half of the drawing, a further conduit 150 has been routed from the outlet container 3007130071400' / 2300’ to the top of the utility pole 500’. Here, the further conduit 150’ enters a distribution box, where cable 140 is terminated at the input of splitter 510, for example a 24-way or 32-way optical splitter. From individual outputs of the splitter, individual optical cables 520 complete further connections to the individual premises 104’, in a conventional manner. It will be recognised that there are effectively two demarcation points in this scenario. The demarcation points of interest for the purposes of the present description are the ones where the cables 140 and 140' are stored in the containers 300 / 1300 / 1400 / 2300 and 3007130071400' / 2300'. Depending on the commercial situation on a particular project, splitter 510 may be regarded as a second demarcation point. From this second demarcation point, further connections to individual premises 104’ can be made all at the same time as the connection to the splitter, or only when demanded by the individual customers. In the latter case, the deployment could be said to have a primary phase, a secondary phase, and a tertiary phase. In principle, containers and methods of the type disclosed herein could be used at a succession of demarcation points along a route. Figs. 9a-c comprise cross-sections of example miniature, lightweight optical fibre cables 700, that may be suitable for use in the methods described above. The cables may be optimised for installation by pushing and / or blowing and / or pulling into ducts as described for example in WO2023016835A1, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Briefly, each of the illustrated example cables comprises one or more primary-coated optical fibres 706 embedded in a solid resin 720 to form a coated fibre bundle. The coated fibre bundle is then covered by an extruded polymer sheath 724. The sheath may for example be based on polyethylene (HDPE), partially crosslinked polyethylene (PE-PEX), polypropylene (PP), nylon [PA] or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Additives may be blended with the base polymers to reduce the coefficient of friction. The skilled reader will understand that these three examples are not presented on the same scale. The primary coated optical fibres 706 may have a standard diameter, for example 250 microns or 200 microns. The cables as a whole may have diameters in the range below 4 mm, typically 1 to 3 mm. The cables 700 of Fig. 9a and 9b, optimised for installation by blowing, may have outer diameters in the region of 1 mm, say in the range 0.5-1.2 mm. The cable 700 of Fig. 8c includes a longitudinal strength member 726 as part of the bundle, adding stiffness to support pushing the cable over substantial distances. It may have an outer diameter in the region of 2 mm, say 1.8-2.5 mm. Modified versions of these cables with enhanced installation performance are described in UK Patent Applications 2317454.3 and 2403588.3, not yet published at the present priority date (PCT / GB2024 / 052894 and PCT / GB2024 / 052893 correspond). Also described in those patent applications are pushing methods and tools which can conveniently be applied in the performance of the methods described herein. While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention, defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. It will also be appreciated that features from these different examples can be combined in many different ways to create further embodiment of the invention. Some of these combinations are explicitly mentioned above, while others will be readily envisaged.

Claims

1. A container for storing and deploying a length of cable, the container defining a coreless cable storage space within which a length of cable can be coiled during use, the container further comprising:(i) a perimeter structure extending around the cable storage space for maintaining said length of cable in a coil around a periphery of the cable storage space using only an inherent stiffness of the cable;(ii) a cable inlet for passage of a first leading portion of the length of cable into the cable storage space;(hi) a cable outlet for passage of a second portion of the length of cable out of the container, the cable outlet being arranged such that the stored length of cable can be withdrawn progressively from a central location in the cable storage space in a direction generally perpendicular to a plane of the coil and out through the cable outlet, without opening the container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cable inlet communicates with the cable storage space via an inlet opening formed at a peripheral location within the cable storage space.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cable inlet communicates with the cable storage space via an inlet opening formed at a central location within the cable storage space.

4. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, further including a deflecting structure, the deflecting structure and the perimeter structure together being configured to use the inherent stiffness of the cable to guide a length of cable to be stored into a coil by feeding the cable progressively into the storage space via a feed opening formed at a central location within the cable storage space.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cable outlet is formed such that the length of cable to be stored can be fed into the container by pushing the cable in through the cable outlet, the outlet opening in that case serving as said feed opening.

6. A container as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the cable inlet is formed such that the length of cable to be stored can be fed into the container by pushing the cable in through the cable inlet, the inlet opening in that case serving as said feed opening.

7. A container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cable outlet and the cable inlet are formed such that the length of cable to be stored can be fed into the container by feeding the cable in through either the cable outlet or the cable inlet, the outlet opening and the inlet opening substantially facing one another across a central portion of the cable storage space, the deflecting structure including a first deflecting surface that surrounds the outlet opening within the cable storage space and a second deflecting surface that surrounds the inlet opening within the cable storage space.

8. A container as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the container is formed such that an outlet part defining the cable outlet, or an inlet part defining the cable inlet, can be removed to provide a wider feed opening for feeding in the length of cable to be stored, said outlet part or said inlet part being fitted to close the container after the length of cable has been stored.

9. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the perimeter structure comprises one or more curved walls, for example a circular wall10. A container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the perimeter structure defines the cable storage space to have a complex form to guide the stored cable into a figure-of-eight coil.

11. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container including the perimeter structure is formed in more than one part, to be assembled at a point of use.

12. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container is provided with a pulling accessory extending through the cable storage space and via the cable inlet and the cable outlet, whereby a leading end of a cable can be drawn through the container without opening the container.

13. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cable inlet includes a first tubular cable guide for coupling the container to an incoming conduit.

14. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cable outlet includes a second tubular cable guide for coupling the container to an outgoing conduit.

15. A container as claimed in claim 14, wherein the cable outlet including the second tubular cable guide is configured to guide a length of cable out of the cable storage space from said central location along a curved path that begins in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the coiled cable and ends in an outlet direction parallel to said plane.

16. A container as claimed in claim 15, wherein the cable outlet is formed so that the outlet direction is adjustable to different angles relative to an inlet direction defined by the cable inlet.

17. A container as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second tubular cable guide is configured to guide the length of cable out of the cable storage space from said central location along a substantially straight path aligned with a central axis of the container.

18. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cable outlet is provided with an end part, for retaining and protecting a leading end of a length of cable that is stored in the cable storage space.

19. A container as claimed in claim 18, wherein the end part includes a retaining structure to prevent the leading end of the cable falling completely into the storage space.

20. A container as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein the end part is formed as a separate end cap to be fitted to the cable outlet when the cable has been stored.

21. A container as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein the end part is formed as an integral part of the cable outlet to be broken or cut from the cable outlet to gain access to the leading end of the stored cable.

22. A method of storing a length of cable at a network demarcation point associated with a customer premises, the method comprising:(i) providing, at the demarcation point, a container having a cable inlet, a cable outlet and a cable storage space which is in communication with both the cable inlet and the cable outlet;(ii) introducing a first leading portion of cable directly or indirectly via said cable inlet into the cable storage space of the container, the cable originating at a distribution point;(hi) storing a further length of said cable within the cable storage space of the container, said further length having a length sufficient to reach an expected connection point within the customer premises; and(iv) storing either a leading end of said cable or a pulling accessory that is attached to that leading end in a location where it can be accessed at a future time to withdraw the further length of cable via said cable outlet without opening the cable storage space of the container.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein step (iv) includes connecting a stub conduit directly or indirectly to the cable outlet of the container and inserting the leading end of the cable or a pulling accessory that is attached to that leading end into the stub conduit.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22 or 23 wherein the container is a container according to any of claims 1 to 20.

24. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the container is a container according to claim 4, 5, 6 or 7, and wherein the step (iii) of storing said further length of the cable within the container includes feeding said further length of the cable into the container by feedingthe cable progressively into the storage space via a feed opening at or near a central location within the cable storage space.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said further length of the cable is fed into the container by feeding it progressively into the storage space via the cable outlet.

26. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said further length of the cable is fed into the container by feeding it progressively into the storage space via the cable inlet.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26 wherein said further length of cable is fed progressively into the storage space simultaneously with transporting the cable through an incoming conduit from the distribution point to the demarcation point.

28. A method as claimed in any of claims 22 to 27, including providing a boundary box at the demarcation point and storing the container within the boundary box.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the cable inlet and the cable outlet of the container are directly connected to conduits entering and leaving the boundary box.

30. A method as claimed in any of claims 22 to 29, wherein the container including the stored length of cable is stored underground, either within an enclosure or directly buried.

31. A method as claimed in any of claims 22 to 30, wherein the method includes providing a location device close to where the leading end of the cable is stored, to enable it to be located for access at a future time.3 2. A method of deploying a length of cable previously stored at a network demarcation point associated with a customer premises, for example by the method of any of claims 22 to 31, for connection to a connection point at a customer premises, the method comprising:(i) accessing either the leading end of the cable or a pulling accessory that is attached to that leading end where it has previously been stored; and(if) moving the stored cable progressively out of the container through the cable outlet, by a length at least sufficient to reach the connection point.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32, further comprising:(hi) providing a further conduit extending from the location of the stub conduitto said connection point; and(iv) moving the cable progressively through said further conduit by a length sufficient to reach the connection point.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33, further comprising:(v) connecting a distal end of the stub conduit directly or indirectly to a proximalend of the further conduit.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the steps (ii) and (iv) are performed simultaneously, after the connecting step (v), and wherein a pulling line provided in the further conduit is used to move the sufficient length of cable out of the container and onward to the connection point.

36. A method as claimed in any of claims 32 to 35, wherein in the event that a length of cable greater than the sufficient length has been moved out of the container in the performance of step (ii), the method may further include feeding an excess length of cable back into the container.

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