Upgraded Remote Fiber Test and Monitoring Portfolio Serves Intelligent Fiber Networks

June 7, 2021

Added capabilities enable further network intelligence in fiber environments.

Enabling the advancement of network intelligence in fiber environments for high-speed applications, as well as addressing passive optical network (PON), 5G, and other networks, VIAVI Solutions added multiple capabilities for their Optical Network Monitoring Solutions (ONMS) family of remote test and monitoring solutions. Adding remote network intelligence enhances service, improves uptime, and increases security. VIAVI's remote test and monitoring solutions leverage rapid response and automation for managing dense, complex networks.

Features include Flash Fiber Monitoring for ONMSi and SmartOTU software, to detect and locate flash attenuation events that cause network route flapping and burst network error conditions in one-tenth of a second, up to 100 to 300 times faster than traditional monitoring. In addition, iOTDR Micro and Nano cards enable NEMs to integrate optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) technology into their elements at low power with a small footprint. A software library provides a diverse range of uses cases, via an element-integrated iOTDR solution.

The cards address applications such as fiber characterization and monitoring, tapping security intrusion detection, fault demarcation, Raman amplified link test, and tracking fiber degradation for preventative maintenance. Fiber network analytics using the NITRO BI Fiber Insight Platform for ONMSi, automate fiber diagnostics to proactively eliminate risks, with fiber trends and aging use cases to allow simplified reporting across the entire fiber network to revise procedures.

“With these additions to the ONMS line, VIAVI innovation continues to lead the industry in helping customers scale construction and maintain performance of critical fiber infrastructure to alleviate years of workload on network staff,” said Kevin Oliver, Vice President and General Manager, Converged Instruments and Virtual Test, VIAVI. "With the ability to proactively monitor fiber using automated, remote test capabilities – service providers, NEMS and hyperscale operators can reduce expensive downtime and repair dispatch using proactive, assessment of the network health, improving the performance, reliability and customer satisfaction across the fiber lifecycle."

About the Author

Alix Paultre | Editor-at-Large, Electronic Design

An Army veteran, Alix Paultre was a signals intelligence soldier on the East/West German border in the early ‘80s, and eventually wound up helping launch and run a publication on consumer electronics for the US military stationed in Europe. Alix first began in this industry in 1998 at Electronic Products magazine, and since then has worked for a variety of publications in the embedded electronic engineering space. Alix currently lives in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Also check out his YouTube watch-collecting channel, Talking Timepieces.