This paper studies the behaviour of a homogeneous cable in a horizontal rigid duct and loaded by an axial compressive force. This behaviour is characterized by spatial buckling modes, named sinusoidal and helical, due to friction and total or partial cable locking. The evaluation of critical buckling loads involved by drilling technology has been studied by many authors. This work presents a new formulation, taking the friction effects into account, for the transmission of the axial load during the postbuckling process. New analytical expressions of pitches in both buckling cases are also given. A life-sized bench is presented, which permits to study the laying of optical fiber cables by squeezing them into an underground duct. Finally, analytical solutions are compared with experimental tests and finite element simulations.