Dark Fiber

TMCnet Web Editor

JDSU today introduced the Medium Range Optical Dispersion Measurement (MR-ODM) module designed for the T-BERD/MTS (News - Alert)-6000 and -8000 platforms often used in the dark fiber space.

 

The single plug-in module includes a solution for chromatic dispersion (CD) measurements, and offers polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and attenuation profile test functions.

 

The combination of the CD and PMD test functions allows network operators, fiber installers and dark fiber providers to characterize any fiber systems including new technologies such as CWDM/DWDM with ROADM (News - Alert) and high speed 10 GigE, 10 Gbps and 40 Gbps+ networks, according to the company.

 

In fiber optic communications, dark fiber is the unused fibers that are still available for use, and the term is used when referring to the potential network capacity of telecommunication infrastructure. However, it also refers to the common practice of leasing fiber optic cables from a network service provider.

 

JDSU (News - Alert) works to enable broadband and optical innovation in the communications, commercial and consumer markets. The California-based company is a provider of communications test and measurement solutions and optical products for telecommunications service providers, cable operators, and network equipment manufacturers.

 

According to JDSU, the module is designed to allow technicians to validate the dark fiber link's compatibility with high-speed DWDM systems, including ROADMs, as well as characterizing fiber at 40G and higher in the metro and access network area.

It has measurement points across the SCL-bands (1,450-1,640 nm) and is test capable through non-bi-directional components (EDFAs, filters, and similar components). It has internal and online wavelength referencing and has a single input port for any test configuration. It is compatible with plug-in or handheld broadband sources at the far end of the fiber under test.

 

As TMCnet reported last year, JDSU announced new features in October for its T-BERD/MTS 4000 Multiple Services Test Platform including advanced test and maintenance functionality for copper-based networks and triple-play services.

 

The T-BERD/MTS-4000 is capable of providing optimum physical layer-to-application layer testing owing to its dark fiber network features.

 

And as service providers continue to migrate to Ethernet as a primary transport protocol, the ability to ensure service quality across dark fiber has become an increasingly critical business imperative, according to Jerry Gentile, vice president in JDSU's Communications Test and Measurement business segment.

 

After inking a deal with solutions testing outfit Emprix last year, Gentile said the company would  incorporate Empirix's (News - Alert) Hammer XMS and its carrier-class signaling analysis capability into JDSU’s media content analysis NetComplete service assurance offering.

 

"Service providers now have a cost-effective, quality of experience solution with high performance and high scalability - an ideal combination to monitor advanced service deployments," he said.