What about the advantages disadvantages and the cost of Sopto Fiber Splices?

Fiber optic mechanical splice performs a similar function to the fusion splice except that the fibers are held together by mechanical means rather than by a welding technique. Mechanical splices a few look like fusion splice protection sleeves. In a mechanical splice, two cleaved fiber tips are mechanically aligned to each other by a special housing. Usually, index matching gel is positioned between the fiber tips to maximize coupling and minimize back reflection.

The principle of mechanical splice is simple and straightforward. Two fibers are stripped, cleaned and cleaved. They are then aligned and held in position either by epoxy resin or by mechanical clips.
Fiber optic mechanical splices have their cons too.

• Higher insertion loss. The typical insertion loss for a mechanical splice is about 0.2dB which is significantly higher than the 0.02dB loss for a typical fusion splice.
• Mechanical splices are not thought to be as reliable as fusion splices over long periods of time
• Mechanical splices are used only in relatively benign environments such as inside an office building, last 100meter in the FTTH project, etc.

Mechanical splice is more expensive than fusion splices. But if you take into account the expensive fusion splicing machines that fusion splices need, the average cost is actually much lower for mechanical splice if you just do a few splices. As the Mechanical splice no need for the special tools in assemble.