EXFO Unveils OTDR-Based Remote Test Unit For Automated FTTH Fault Management

Designed for in-service testing, monitoring and troubleshooting, the FG-750 Node iOLM performs end-to-end PON testing from the central office

QUEBEC CITY - EXFO Inc. announced recently new additions to its Fiber Guardian product family, including the FG-750 Node iOLM, a specialized OTDR designed for in-service FTTH fiber testing, monitoring and troubleshooting. This latest EXFO innovation can test point-to-multipoint fibers, or run downstream tests from the node or central office to any passive optical network line type, providing operators with an automated, operation-oriented way of assessing the health of their FTTH networks.

The need for optical demarcation in FTTH networks 
Open FTTH network and multitenant environments require establishing a clear responsibility boundary between the operator and the service provider, even at the optical fiber layer. Also, limited access to customer premises and longer commuting times in cities and urban areas put increased pressure on operating costs and the importance of reducing truck rolls. Finally, added to these aspects is this everyday challenge: efficiently testing quality and continuity between a network node, point of presence (PoP), central office or exchange site and a customer premises.

Addressing the challenge 
Based on EXFO's patented Link-Aware technology, the Node intelligent Optical Link Mapper (iOLM) allows operators to monitor and validate end-to-end fiber quality from a centralized location, and throughout the lifecycle. Its ability to perform online quality control of contractual work, and to further use the same equipment for isolating and pinpointing optical-layer impairments in a more automated way is expected to significantly increase operational efficiency.

Its carrier-class hardware meets FTTx network requirements such as connection to a multiple optical test ports, use of multifiber cables (MFCs), low power consumption, small volume and scalability. In addition, EXFO is introducing cost-efficient 576-port and 720-port optical switch and test access modules allowing in-service addition of out-of-band OTDR signals to the line under test, all from the node. In terms of software, the connectivity and access to the test platform is provided through a full set of representational state transfer (REST) services (APIs) allowing easy integration by virtually any system integrator, network equipment manufacturer or tier-1 operator.

"After having launched the Ethernet One solution, which allows to deploy and assure Carrier Ethernet services more cost-effectively, we are proud to reinforce our commitment to providing our customers with productivity-boosting tools that can shorten the on-field assessment cycles and time-to-revenue," said Étienne Gagnon, Vice-President of EXFO's Test and Measurement Division. "When used in a support and maintenance environment, the Node iOLM allows operators to monitor and validate end-to-end fiber quality from a centralized location, and throughout the network lifecycle."

Visit our website for more on the FG-750 Node iOLM.