received by the International Bureau on 06 August 2018 (06.08.2018)

1. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly configured to be installed through a duct, wherein prior to installation the pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly comprises: at least one optical fibre; a terminal connector on at least a leading end of the at least one optical fibre; and a protective sleeve extending from a position behind the terminal connector along a minor part of the length of the optical fibre.

2. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a protective layer is provided over the at least one optical fibre and wherein the protective layer extends over a major part of the length of the optical fibre.

3. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cable assembly, including the leading end having the terminal connector and the protective sleeve is adapted for installation into said duct by blowing.

4. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the protective layer extends over substantially the full length of the optical fibre.

5. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 2, 3, or 4 wherein the protective layer comprises a first layer in which the at least one optical fibre is embedded with one or more other optical fibres in said first layer to form an optical fibre bundle, the protective sleeve extending over said optical fibre bundle. 6. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first layer comprises a UV-cured resin.

7. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in 5 or 6, wherein the optical fibre bundle is surrounded by an outer sheath of extruded material over at least the majority of the length of the optical fibre bundle.

8. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the outer sheath extends beneath said protective sleeve along substantially the whole length of the protective sleeve.

9. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said outer sheath extends beneath said protective sleeve along only a part of its length.

10. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the outer sheath has been removed from the portion of the optical fibre that lies beneath the protective sleeve, and extends from a point behind the protective sleeve over a major part of the length of the optical fibre bundle.

11. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in any of claim 10, wherein the outer sheath abutting the protective sleeve provides a restraint against movement of the protective sleeve.

12. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein an outer surface of the protective sleeve is formed by a mixture of a polymer and a friction reducing material.

13. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the polymer of the surface of the protective sleeve is primarily HDPE.

14. A pre-terminated cable assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the protective sleeve has an outer diameter between 0.5 and 3.5mm. 39

15. A pre-terminated cable assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the protective sleeve has an outer diameter less than 2.5mm.

16. A pre-terminated cable assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 15, wherein a portion of the cable assembly, including the leading end having the terminal connector and the protective sleeve, is adapted for installation into a duct having an inner bore diameter of approximately 3.5mm.

17. A pre-terminated cable assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein only one terminal connector is attached to one optical fibre at said leading end, said terminal connector comprising a ferrule body, the ferrule body being adapted to be received in a connector body after installation.

18. A pre-terminated cable assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13, comprising a duplex terminal connector, wherein two terminal connectors are connected to two optical fibres, each terminal connector comprising a ferrule body, the ferrule body being adapted to be received in a connector body after installation, and wherein a portion of the cable assembly, including the leading end having the terminal connector and the protective sleeve, is adapted for installation into a duct having an inner bore diameter of approximately 8mm.

19. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the protective sleeve is fixed against longitudinal movement relative to the optical fibre, by fixing at least a first end of the protective sleeve to an underlying layer. 20. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein the protective sleeve is fixed against longitudinal movement relative to the optical fibre, by fixing both ends or along its full length. 40

21. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the protective sleeve is free moving over a section of the underlying optical fibre before it is installed.

22. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the protective sleeve extends along the optical fibre for less than 10% of the length of the optical fibre.

23. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the protective sleeve comprises a plurality of layers.

24. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 23, wherein the protective sleeve comprises an outer layer comprising at least a low-friction outer surface, a middle layer comprising a strengthening material, and an inner layer comprising a resilient material.

25. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 24, wherein the outer layer of the protective sleeve comprises a polyethylene-based material comprising a friction reducing agent such that the outer layer exhibits low-friction properties.

26. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 24 or 25, wherein the middle layer the protective sleeve comprises fibres such as aramid fibres.

27. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 24, 25 or 36 wherein the inner layer of the protective sleeve comprises a material that is resilient, heat resistant and chemical resistant.

28. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 27, wherein the inner layer of the protective sleeve comprises a thermoplastic elastomer. 41

29. A pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly as claimed in claim 28, wherein said thermoplastic elastomer is a copolyester.

30. A method of assembling a pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly prior to installation through a duct, the method comprising the steps of: taking at least one optical fibre; fitting a protective sleeve onto a leading end of the optical fibre and extending the protective sleeve along a minor part of the length of the optical fibre; attaching a terminal connector to the leading end of the at least one optical fibre; and arranging the protective sleeve to extend from behind the connector along a minor part of the length of the optical fibre, wherein the protective sleeve extends towards a trailing end of the optical fibre.

31. A method as claimed in claim 30, further comprising the steps: fixing at least a part of the protective sleeve against longitudinal movement relative to the at least one optical fibre.

32. A method as claimed in claim 30 or 31 , wherein said optical fibre is received embedded with one or more other optical fibres within a first layer of cured resin to form an optical fibre bundle, said protective sleeve extending over said optical fibre bundle.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein said optical fibre is received with said optical fibre bundle enclosed within an extruded outer sheath, and wherein the step of applying the protective sleeve includes removing of said outer sheath of the received cable assembly from 42

at least part of the optical fibre bundle, before applying the protective sleeve over that part of the optical fibre bundle.

34. A method of installing a pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly according claims 1 to 29, the method comprising the steps: inserting the leading end of said pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly, including the terminal connector and the protective sleeve into a duct; and transporting a length of the pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly through the duct until a leading portion of the pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly protrudes from the duct, protected by said protective sleeve, while a section of the protective sleeve remains within the duct.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising: sealing the duct exit.

36. A method as claimed in claim 35, wherein sealing the duct exit comprises fitting a seal around the protruding section of the protective sleeve and fitting the seal to the duct exit.

37. A method as claimed in claim 35 or 36, wherein the seal includes a plug and a cap, wherein the method includes inserting the plug into the duct and closing the duct exit with the cap.

38. A method as claimed in any of claims 35 to 37, further comprising: installing an optical fibre clamp proximate the duct exit.

39. A method as claimed in any of claims 35 to 38, further comprising: clamping the protective sleeve proximate the duct exit, wherein clamping the protective sleeve is effective to prevent movement of the optical fibre relative to the duct. 43

40. A method as claimed in any of claims 35 to 39, further comprising: clamping the protective sleeve within or adjacent the connector body to prevent movement of the protective sleeve relative to the connector body.

41. A method as claimed in any of claims 34 to 40, further comprising connecting one end of the pre-terminated cable assembly to supply equipment and another end of the pre- terminated construction to consumer equipment.

42. A method as claimed in claim 41 , wherein said terminal connector comprises a ferrule connector, the method further comprising adding a connector body to the terminal connector of the pre-terminated optical fibre cable assembly after installation in the duct, the connector body facilitating said connecting step.