Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1192126
January/February/March 2020 I 23 On campus, more than 30 fraternity buildings are con- nected to the core network by OM1 multimode fibers that were deployed many years ago. The demand for increased throughput involved 38 multimode optical links. These multimode fibers, ranging in length from 400 to 1,100 meters (1,310 to 3,610 feet), were unable to transmit information at the required rate of 10 Gb/s. Recabling can be complex. Most of the cable ducts were no longer available and the operational constraints were too great to implement the project. Recabling would have been a very costly solution to this problem. The net- work managers of this university, being intently focused on technological innovation, were attracted to the MPLC technology shown at the 2018 BICSI Win- ter Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida. Geor- gia Tech ultimately adopted MPLC technology to meet its broadband requirements using its existing multimode links (Figure 5). The center launching modal adapters were installed and implemented as shown in Figure 6. For lengths under 800 meters (875 yards), the center launching modal adapter was installed at just one end of the optical fiber pair to the network core. The equipment was spliced to existing multimode fiber undergoing the upgrade. Since the multimode connectors have eccen- tricity tolerances of a few micrometers, it was FIGURE 5: Georgia Tech campus illustration showing multimode fiber links and the network core with installed MPLC-based modal adapters. 1 FIGURE 6: Georgia Tech's MPLC-based modal adapter implementation scheme. 2 your own devices (BYOD); and increased digital content to support online student learning that improves the students' experience via innovative teaching tool plat- forms, TV/video services, and campus social networking. Switch Switch 10 Gb/s transceiver MMF link >800 m and <10000 m Fusion splice MMF link <800 m SMF patchcord SMF patchcord Patch panel Optical connector SMF patchcord Tx Tx Tx Tx Tx Rx Rx Rx Tx Rx Rx Rx Rx 12 11 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 6 5 5 4 3 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 4 3 8 7 10 9 Rx Network core Remote buildings MODAL ADAPTER MODAL ADAPTER 10 Gb/s transceiver 10 Gb/s transceiver 10 Gb/s transceiver 10 Gb/s transceiver 10 Gb/s transceiver 10 Gb/s transceiver Tx Tx 10 Gb/s transceiver Switch