Standard Installation: Fiber optic cables are generally buried at depths ranging from 3 to 4 feet (approximately 0. This depth helps protect the cable from damage caused by digging, animals, and environmental conditions like freezing and flooding. The Fiber Optic Association, Inc. The charter of the FOA was to promote professionalism in fiber optics through education, certification, and. The depth can vary from location to location, based on a number of different environmental influences. Burying the cable too shallowly can expose it to damage from various threats, such as construction activities, agricultural equipment, and natural.