Fiber Monitoring Systems: An Overview

With fiber networks becoming larger and more complex, network operators are faced with the daunting task of maintaining the increasingly complicated and aging network with fewer resources.

This presentation will convey the benefits of deploying a system dedicated to the monitoring of fiber optic cables in the outside plant using stationary rack mounted OTDRs connected to a central server(s). Initial optical traces are taken, indexed to georeferenced maps, then stored for future reference. In a fiber fault situation, an immediate comparison of the initial and current trace is performed by the system, identifying the precise location of the trouble and issuing an alarm, thereby substantially reducing mean-time-to-repair.

Not only is rapid restoration key in any network outage situation, but the ability to note optical degradation and then providing a proactive maintenance response enables continued peak network performance.