The Importance of Reliable Fiber Networks

According to a recent study from the Fiber Broadband Association and RVA, LLC, broadband use during the pandemic became critical as individuals weathered the uncertainty from their homes. One area where broadband saw a significant increase was the use of video conferencing, a technology that requires high levels of reliable bandwidth, as well as online gaming and video streaming.  A Lightwave article notes that in the first quarter of 2020 bandwidth use increased by 47%, with, “the average broadband subscriber consuming a weighted monthly average of 402.5 GB of data.”

OFS recently made a splash when they announced a new hollow-core optical fiber optimized for low latency transmission.  While hollow-core fibers have existed for about 20 years, it is exciting to see such an innovative and promising fiber technology being more broadly applied to commercial applications. 

For many years, communications network equipment manufacturers performed most of the lab testing efforts when designing and certifying their gear for use in the field by their customers.  Now that fiber optic systems are the norm around the world for driving communications, many of the equipment users themselves are testing potential devices before deployment to determine the best solution for their own unique needs.  Financial service providers, utilities, local governments, and smaller regional internet providers have recognized that having even a small and efficient lab setup where they can simulate their network and train technicians can go a long way in optimizing their operations.

Simulating real-world fiber optic links and time delays in the lab environment is both a frequent and necessary task for engineers performing R&D and equipment certification testing processes.  With the evolution to more advanced network architecture, increasing speeds of 400G and beyond, and latency always being a key element, replicating the field network as closely as possible in the lab is critical to ensure systems will perform as expected post-deployment. 

As broadband access expands to more communities and rural areas, the use and deployment of fiber optic networks continues to grow as residents rely heavily on the availability of faster broadband speeds to stay connected and utilize the latest apps and services. As a result, network reliability and availability is more critical than ever making monitoring and support by the service provider all the more important.

This year’s OFC conference in San Diego will be another showcase of innovative new and future technologies.  With fiber optic communication and networking equipment continuing to evolve, testing procedures and setups must also grow and change as part of the process.  Engineers are then often faced with a challenge - how can they continue to add and integrate new systems and the appropriate connectivity infrastructure in a finite amount of lab space?  While some may benefit from new facility expansions, the luxury of additional square footage and rack space isn't often the case for most.

While the adoption and deployment of 100G systems and related devices in data centers has continued to grow at a solid pace the past few years, network equipment manufacturers have started taking the next step for supporting even greater bandwidth demands by developing 400G optics and transmission systems.

The term fiber optic network often conjures up images of Verizon FIOS commercials, Google Fiber, Comcast  Xfinity, or some other multi-billion dollar media and telecommunication company that promotes their reliance on fiber optic infrastructure for their business.

As we enter the last quarter of the year, businesses are starting to or continuing to plan and budget for the upcoming year.  This may mean new investments, new equipment and other upgrades in technology or infrastructure to support and position the company to be competitive and successful in the upcoming year.  

Using Fiber Network Simulation to Certify New Optical Equipment