EXFO: 100 G network deployments
Mobile broadband applications, mainly video based, and data centre interconnect (DCI) will be the key drivers for 100 G network deployments. Videos put a lot of pressure on the network.
The growth of 100 G (high speed) network deployments in long-haul transmission (generally considered to range from spans of 0 km to 600 km) has more or less saturated. While there will be new deployments on this front, the percentage of growth will decline. The industry has already started witnessing 100 G deployments for metro DCI (generally within about 600 km). Over the next two to three years, these high speed networks are expected to start getting deployed on the EDGE/access side (generally less than 100 km). The latter is likely to emerge as the biggest driver for 100 G deployments in the coming three to four years.
As far as long haul transmission is concerned, there has been a relatively controlled 100 G deployment so far, with mostly one vendor deploying point-to-point cables for an operator or a submarine cable. As a result, the issues that operators currently face are slightly different from those that are expected to emerge in the future. One of the key issues is related to the insertion loss and reflections. These result from excessive bending of the cable, contamination of the connector end-face, damage on the ferrule end-face and defective splicing in some cases. These issues are even more prominent when using Raman-based line equipment.
In terms of dispersion, it is generally believed that 100 G coherent systems compensate for dispersion, so there is no need to test it. However, there are now multiple documented cases of failures related to PMD and SOP. So, getting more information on these details and PMD testing are important.
It has been recognised that the current OSNR measurement methods do not work for Pol-Mux signals, especially with reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs). Fortunately, no major issues have cropped up in point-to-point transmissions so far, but this is changing with the open cables business model.
Further, several customers have had to replace CFPs after deployment globally, due to high BER bursts and compatibility issues. One of EXFO’s key European customers had to replace over 50 per cent of CFPs due to these issues.
A few key steps will help achieve successful long-haul 100 G deployments. These include undertaking connector inspections, validating CFPs, controlling link loss and reflections, and identifying high PMD spans and sections at risk. It is also very important to perform a complete verification of transceivers before deployment.
OM Optel: Providing best quality OFC cables
OM Optel Industries is a part of the Om Kothari Group, which has diversified business interests across verticals like infrastructure, engineering, construction, automotive dealerships, real estate and packaging. The company has a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for optic fibre cable (OFC) ranging from 2F to 96F and other special cables as per customer requirements. The plant is located at Mandideep in Madhya Pradesh.
The plant consists of modern machinery for manufacturing OFC and other special cables. The range of products offered include UNI tube armoured 2 steel wire 2F to 12F, multi-tube single sheath unarmoured 2F to 144F, multi-tube single sheath armoured 2F to 144F, multi-tube double sheath armoured 2F to 144F, simplex cable, duplex cable, CATV cable, multi-tube dielectric armoured 2F to 144F, multi-tube figure-8 aerial cable 2F to 144F, UNI tube figure-8 aerial cable 2F to 12F, flat drop indoor cable FTTH, spiral armoured cable and tactical cable.
The company aims to provide the best quality OFC and innovative cable design as per customer/application requirement.
Om Optel has a strong product development process and an effective marketing strategy. The key features of its product development process include:
- The creation of infrastructure dedicated to the product and its possible variants
- Know-how/competence to meet national and international standards at competitive prices
- Design capability
- Creation of USP.
The key features of its marketing strategy include the following:
- Product identification
- Mass consumption
- Special application
- Technical sales team
- Product knowledge/training of sales persons
- Suggestions for USP looking at customer demand
- Customer identification
- Approvals from various institutions
- Preparation for future products
- Fibre optic-based heat sensing cable
- Pressure sensor
- Cables for industrial automation.
Om Optel has adopted the following guidelines to support its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction by:
- Communicating frequently with customers to obtain proper feedback on its product performance in order to meet customer expectations.
- Insisting on best quality commitments from suppliers and distributors to ensure that company objectives are achieved.
- Implementing timely corrective and preventive actions to eliminate the source of non-conformity.
- Enhancing the skills of employees through training and career development, recognising that the employees of Om Optel Industries are the most important resource.
Based on presentations by François Robitaille, Senior Product Line Manager, Optical, EXFO; and R.S. Shekhawat, CEO, Om Optel
