APRIL 7, 2009 -- EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering Inc. (search Lightwave for EXFO) says that a Tier 1 network operator from the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region has selected EXFO's FTB-5600 Distributed PMD Analyzer to enable a network upgrade to higher transmission rates.
In a deal reaching roughly $2.0 million, EXFO's newly released FTB-5600 Distributed PMD Analyzers will be used to quantify the level of polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) on specific fiber sections of the operator's core network. As a result, it will allow the customer to identify and repair only the affected sections of its network when upgrading to 40 Gbps today and 100 Gbps in the future.
The FTB-5600 Distributed PMD Analyzer measures PMD as a function of distance. Consequently, the network operator will carry out targeted facelifts to its fiber plant and meet tight deadlines for important upgrades to higher transmission rates, EXFO says..
The FTB-5600 Distributed PMD Analyzer is a module hosted inside the recently launched FTB-500 platform, which allows EXFO customers to carry out a wide range of tests � from optical link characterization to 40G next-generation SONET/SDH testing.
PMD is a physical phenomenon inherent to optical fiber and components that causes a statistical spreading of light pulses as they travel along a network. This degrades the quality of the transmission signal and, in turn, limits the transmission rates carried by optical networks. PMD levels tend to soar as transmission rates are increased to 40 Gbps and beyond.
"As the market leader in optical testing, it's always gratifying to see a newly released product being quickly adopted and meeting a pressing need for a Tier-1 network operator," said Etienne Gagnon, EXFO's Vice-President of Product Management and Marketing. "In this particular case, our single-end distributed PMD analyzer will provide a Tier-1 operator with a much clearer picture of PMD effects on all fiber sections of its network � rather than offer a blind end-to-end value � and enable the cost-efficient upgrade to higher transmission rates through targeted facelifts."
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