The standard burial depth for telephone cables is typically 24 inches (61 centimeters). This depth provides a reasonable level of protection from accidental damage during common activities such as gardening or shallow digging. Local regulations and specific site conditions, however, may necessitate variations to this standard.
Maintaining a consistent and adequate depth is crucial for preventing service disruptions and ensuring the longevity of the infrastructure. Proper burial mitigates the risk of cable severance, which can lead to communication outages and costly repairs. Historically, the adoption of standardized burial depths has significantly reduced the frequency of cable damage, improving the reliability of telephone services.