For years, many security professionals associated Southwest Microwave with high-performance copper-based perimeter fence detection. That reputation was well earned. Their traditional copper systems have been proven in the field across demanding applications and still remain a strong fit for many sites today. What has changed is that Southwest Microwave now adds a fiber-based option to the portfolio, giving end users, consultants, and integrators a more complete set of tools for perimeter protection.
That matters because perimeter projects are rarely one-size-fits-all. Some facilities want copper because it is cost-effective for shorter distances and familiar to the market. Others require fiber because it aligns with their specifications, long-distance architecture, or broader infrastructure strategy. With the addition of the INTREPID MicroFiber Series, Southwest Microwave can now support both approaches. That means less compromise during design and less need to mix vendors just to satisfy a perimeter requirement.
In the discussion with Tom Fontana, Jeff Drews explains that Southwest Microwave had evaluated fiber years ago but did not believe earlier generations of the technology could match the catch + nuisance performance and market practicality of their copper-based offerings. Now that fiber sensing has advanced, the company sees it as ready for real-world deployment. The result is not a replacement for copper, but an expansion of the portfolio. Copper remains a tried-and-true option, while fiber now gives customers a powerful alternative when long range, specification requirements, or shared infrastructure make more sense.
One of the biggest advantages of the fiber solution is flexibility. The new MicroFiber system uses standard off-the-shelf single-mode fiber and in many cases can even leverage existing fiber already installed on the perimeter. That can be a major benefit for sites that want to share infrastructure costs across multiple perimeter and security systems instead of deploying separate pathways for each technology. For many end users, that is not just a technical benefit. It is a budgeting and lifecycle advantage as well.
The INTREPID MicroFiber Series is a distributed acoustic sensing fiber optic system designed for fence, wall, and buried applications. Highlights include AI-driven detection algorithms, web-based monitoring, software-defined control, and integration with VMS platforms, IP cameras, and radar devices. In other words, this is not a niche sensor for one perimeter type. It is positioned as a flexible perimeter platform that can be adapted to many site conditions.
This broader portfolio approach is especially important for consultants and end users who need the right sensor for the right perimeter. During the interview, Tom Fontana points out the real design benefit: if a project is price-sensitive, shorter range, or better suited to copper, Southwest Microwave still has that answer. If the project demands longer range fiber sensing with no field electronics, the company now has that answer too. Instead of shopping one manufacturer for copper and another for fiber, designers can stay within one perimeter portfolio and choose based on application requirements.
The INTREPID MicroFiber family includes the MicroFiber Command platform for applications up to 20 kilometers and the MicroFiber Sentinel platform for applications up to 130 kilometers. The literature also shows that the Command version is available in multiple distance tiers, allowing customers to size the system to the site rather than overbuying. That scalability gives Southwest Microwave a practical answer for a wide variety of perimeter lengths, from conventional facilities to very large sites and critical infrastructure environments.
This matters in higher-security environments such as nuclear, corrections, government, and data center applications. Fiber-based sensing can support long runs, multiple installation styles, and options for cut resilience and hardware redundancy. Dual-fiber options, cut-resilient configurations, and hardware redundancy are possible across both MicroFiber platforms. Those capabilities give facilities more ways to design around uptime, survivability, and operational continuity.
Another important point is that the solution is not limited to basic intrusion detection. In the interview, Jeff describes how the system uses digital acoustic sensing and can be trained around site-specific sounds or events. The system is capable of precision acoustic sensing and advanced detection algorithms to support accurate detection while minimizing nuisance alarms. For system managers and owners, that points to a smarter perimeter approach that can be tuned to the realities of the site rather than forcing the site to adapt to the sensor.
Integration also remains central to the value story. Relay-based options exist as well as ONVIF integration with platforms such as Genetec and Milestone, as well as compatibility with other VMS systems, IP cameras, and radar. The new fiber offering is not a standalone specialty product, but rather is a part of a broader security ecosystem that can support video verification, alarm workflows, and centralized situational awareness.
Southwest Microwave is no longer just the company people call for copper-based fence detection. It now offers a more complete perimeter portfolio that includes both proven copper solutions and advanced fiber solutions.
Whether a facility needs copper for cost and fit, or fiber for specification, distance, and infrastructure strategy, Southwest Microwave can now address that requirement from within one portfolio. For security professionals, that means a more streamlined design process, fewer vendor compromises, and a better path to matching perimeter technology to the real demands of the site.