ICT Today

26 I ICT TODAY Network Life Cycle Phases Deployment Inspect connectors with a fiber inspection device Verify fiber sections during installation with a fiber optic meter This is the basis of any fiber manipulation and ensures that the connector endface is clean. The fiber inspection device should also feature software analysis that provides a pass/fail status to indicate whether you can connect a specific patch cord. Clean connectors will give maximum performance and a healthy network in order to provide high-speed bandwidth. Basic health checks, such as a quick verification of loss, ORL and cable length up to the splitter, are required to ensure these are no faulty events on the link. Troubleshooting while technicians are still onsite ensures smoother characterization and faster network readiness. Test service activation with a power meter for PON A special power meter, designed specially for the PON, validates signal level before activation to make sure that the active equipment is working properly and ready for the user. Troubleshoot with a fiber optic meter Should maintenance be required, a fiber optic meter is perfectly suited to identify issues and verify repairs by testing from the user location when a single user is down or from the OLT when all users are impacted. Activation Maintenance 6 Best Practices for Testing POLs Report When doing all this testing with multiple test instruments, it is important to concatenate and aggregate all the test results to provide clear reports to the network owners and to record validations, proof, and job closures. Steps Conduct full fiber characterization with OTDR-based technology EXFO recommends using an OTDR-based solution with mapping capabilities. This technology characterizes the fiber and looks at every component inside the link—all the splitters, connectors, splices—to provide a full visual mapping of the link. GPON architecture calls for a splitter (typically 1:16 or 1:32). These are high-loss components that pose a challenge in terms of testing. So, it is important to use what is referred to by the industry as a "PON-optimized OTDR." FIGURE 3: Passive optical LAN's summary network life cycle guide. Figure 3 summarizes the various stages of testing during deployment and after service turn-up, which will maximize the benefits of the POL network throughout its life cycle including reduced maintenance cost and downtime. WHERE TO DEPLOY POLs? Having addressed the opportunities, benefits, and testing inherent in successful POL deployment, it is important to consider the scenarios in which this technology can be most beneficial. Passive optical LANs can be highly effective in a variety of vertical markets and physical environments. • High-rise and LEED certified buildings: Passive optical LANs are ideal when deploying a LAN in a single-enterprise office building or a multi-tenant LEED certified building because of their simplicity and flexibility. While the signal feed is provided by a communications service provider, typically the building owner's IT manager is responsible for the enterprise network operation. The simplicity of POL architecture enables IT managers to effectively manage and troubleshoot the network. Being fiber-based, only the active equipment needs upgrading if in a few years high-speed service is required, enabling a smooth transition to future technologies. • Multi-building campuses: Similar to an FTTH network, POLs for this application include a set of centralized OLTs feeding multiple different campuses, distributed over passive optical splitters creating a tree type of architecture. Upgrades to higher speed are seamless as the fiber infrastructure can remain installed for over 25 years due to its virtually unlimited bandwidth capacity. • Military/government agencies: When security is critical, POLs are ideal given fewer points of vulnerability and inherently more secure fiber cable versus copper. With centralized management capability, it is also easier for personnel to adhere to security protocols.

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