FIBER CHARACTERIZATION (TESTING)
Fiber characterization will ensure your installed fiber infrastructure will meet specifications. Wiltech uses state of the art Optical Time Domain Reflectometers (OTDRs) for qualifying and documenting your fiber link. OTDR’s provide a repeatable fiber test for product acceptance before fiber is installed, troubleshooting a system, system verification qualifying each component of the fiber link, and documentation of fiber builds.
Full fiber characterization includes:
- CONNECTOR END FACE INSPECTION
- INSERTION LOSS MEASUREMENTS
- OTDR TESTING
- RETURN LOSS MEASUREMENTS
- CHROMATIC DISPERSION TESTING
- POLARIZATION MODE DISPERSION TESTING
- SPECTRAL ATTENUATION
Results and analysis
The results of the characterization must be documented. An important and valuable part of the process is the analysis and interpretation of the results. This analysis should have an assessment of the infrastructure quality and its capacity to accommodate certain systems.
When is fiber characterization needed?
DARK FIBER DEALS
In many areas the demand for fiber characterization services is increasing, due to the growing complexity of the competitive telecoms markets. A leased fiber path may include fiber fiber routes operated by different companies. Frequently rather complex dark fiber deals are done with several different providers, to stitch together a new fiber route while installing a minimum amount of new fiber. When this happens, the fiber route will need to be characterized.
NETWORK UPGRADES
Due to few new cables going in, network operators need to upgrade their current infrastructure to function at higher data rates and/or using DWDM or CWDM systems over extended wavelength ranges.
More than likely, older fibers haven’t been tested for Chromatic dispersion or PMD. At 40Gb/s data rates, it may be necessary to precisely know the chromatic dispersion in order for it to be compensated for with sufficient accuracy.
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
When a person/company purchase a network they may require an independent audit of their assets’ quality and value that they have purchased.
NEW NETWORKS
New networks should be characterized and documented for dependable service into the future.
No matter the reason for you needing fiber characterization, Wiltech will be happy to provide you with their services. Let us know how we can help today!