The U.S. Patent Office has approved protections for a unit of San Diego-based Sempra Energy’s technology for installing fiber optic cable in live natural gas distribution pipelines without disturbing the flow of energy supplies.

Sempra Fiber Links said the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office indicated it will officially issue the patent for Sempra’s “fiber-in-gas” technology next month. Sempra’s unit, part of its “global enterprises” merchant businesses, builds fiber-optic networks for telecommunications companies by using existing, in-service natural gas distribution infrastructure that typically already is linked to large blocks of end-use customers.

Michael Clover, Sempra Fiber Links president, called the patent approval “a substantial milestone” for the fledgling company, “proving the innovative nature and practical viability of the process.” Clover thinks the patent will give Sempra a “competitive edge” in offering its services to telecommunciations and natural gas utilities throughout the U.S.

“(Our) process is less costly than standard fiber-optic installation methods in most urban applications,” Clover said.

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