Remote Fiber Monitoring System

Remote Fiber Monitoring System provides a comprehensive real time fiber optic physical layer
monitoring platform. RFMS analyses any threat to fibers like data security, transient events,
cable break, long term degradation of fibers, predicts any degradation of splices, connectors etc.
Events can be located with accuracy better than +/-10m along the entire link. The system is
suited for both point to point links as well as FTTH networks. It comes with an Element
Management System (EMS), which alert the operators and managers about events through
instantaneous alarm notifications

 Web based, Secure Network Management System

 Alarms Monitoring of Fiber Intrusion, Fault, Degradation and other Network Events
 Remote Management, Provisioning and configuration of Network Elements
 Alarm forwarding via SMS and E-mail, Multi level Alarm Escalation workflow
 On demand and periodic Fiber testing
 Fiber Link Route Management
 Extensive Reporting - Performance/Security/Fault reports for various user groups
 Scheduled reporting of critical reports to the configured users via e-mail
 Highly configurable, profile based user access to the functionalities and system entities
(User access on Region /Element level etc) for authentication and security
 Integration with 3rd party NMS/OSS via SNMP and XML/SOAP protocols
 IPV6 Support, SNMP V3 support (and V2 for backward compatibility)
 System configuration via Local Port

What Is a Remote Fiber Testing System?

A remote fiber testing system, commonly known as a fiber monitoring system, provides the
most efficient solution for monitoring the integrity of fiber optic cables in a network. Given
the vast number of optical fibers deployed in networks today and the time and cost it would
take for humans to routinely and manually test each fiber, a remote fiber testing system
allows for continuous and automated monitoring of fiber cables for breaks, degradations, and
malicious tampering incidents.

Deploying a fiber monitoring system provides the advantage of continuous assurance of

optimal service while alerting field technicians in real-time when issues arise to allow for
faster repairs and issue resolution. Thus, it not only maximizes performance for the network
users but also saves the service provider significant operational costs and time when they can
identify and locate issues quickly.

Added benefits include the ability for service providers to identify trends and issue areas,
along with tracking important fiber performance metrics over time.
How Does a Remote Fiber Testing System Work?

The Technology

While there are a number of manufacturers around the world that design and build these types
of devices with varying degrees of capabilities and performance specifications, most systems
utilize a similar technology approach.

To detect a physical issue or event that may arise in an optical fiber, these systems often
include an OTDR. This is a device that sends a light pulse and evaluates the signal reflections
for identifying light loss/attenuation events in an optical fiber, which can include serious
issues like a break to simply the end of the cable. Thus, the OTDR is able to precisely
determine where in a fiber the event(s) occur and provide that data to the user, making it a
highly valuable tool. While most OTDRs are designed to be handheld units that fiber optic
technicians carry as part of their testing toolkit, some are manufactured for use in systems
like these.

The OTDR monitoring signal, while in some systems is adjustable, will be a light wavelength
that is different from the wavelengths carrying data, so that the monitoring signal will not
interfere with data transmission. As an example, many monitoring systems use a non-
intrusive wavelength of 1625nm or 1650nm, since single-mode networks transmit data in the
1310nm to 1610nm range.

For fiber monitoring applications, the OTDR is typically paired with both management
software, a 1xN optical switch, and some other components depending on the system.
Additionally, some systems integrate everything into an all-in-one solution, while others
combine separate modular pieces of hardware together. This grouping of technology provides
the ability to test and monitor a number of connected fibers on a routine basis, then send
alerts in real-time when an issue arises.

Once acquired by a service provider and connected to network fibers, the management
software included allows the user to configure these units in a wide variety of ways,
depending on their unique monitoring needs. In addition to setting the performance
parameters of the OTDR, a user may be able to adjust things like system sensitivity, the types
of alerts generated and who they are sent to, configurations for dark vs lit fibers or P2P vs
PON fibers, and monitoring fibers at specific and/or periodic time intervals. Lastly, some
systems include or integrate with 3rd party mapping software, helping to provide a visual
representation of the monitored network and where an issue occurs to the benefit of the field
technicians making repairs.

Fiber Monitoring Best Practice: When evaluating potential fiber monitoring systems for a
network, it is always a good idea to determine the primary goals and objectives related to
your needs, then evaluate multiple systems to determine which will deliver maximum benefit.

For example, do you need basic fiber monitoring capabilities to quickly identify issues or a
more comprehensive fiber management platform that may include other non-fiber monitoring
capabilities? Is available rack space an issue? Do you anticipate future network growth and
require a system that will scale efficiently as more fibers are installed and activated? What
level of vendor support is included with the system should you have questions after
installation? Don’t hesitate to ask questions - a knowledgeable vendor or system provider
should be able to answer your technology questions in a helpful and timely manner.

What Types of Issues Can You Detect With a Remote Fiber Testing System?

Fiber issues generally fall into one of just a few types of categories:

 Accidental (ex: a fiber is broken during a construction project)

 Malicious (ex: someone purposely cuts or tampers with a fiber)
 Random or uncontrollable environmental event (ex: earthquake)

Within these categories, remote fiber testing systems can help to detect a wide range of
detrimental events, some of which are not always top of mind in terms of issues that can
arise:

 Animals causing damage to cables and fiber strands

 Fire damage
 A hacker tapping a fiber attempting to steal data
 Downed telecom poles and fiber cables from storms, severe winds, or ice
 Submerged cables and network equipment during a flood
 Excessive bends or breaks during network installation or service connections
 Splices degrading over time or damaged accidentally during other handling and
repairs
 Fibers spliced back together to incorrect fibers in a cable during repairs
 Hunters using aerial cables for target practice

In any of these instances, the damage may be minor or severe. For example, a cable may be
crushed to a degree but not totally broken, and data still flows but with a high level of signal
loss. Or, a fiber may be severed entirely, causing a complete outage.

In summary, the negative consequences of virtually any situation that service providers
regularly face that results in a fiber being damaged or broken can be mitigated or even
eliminated using active remote monitoring.

Primary Benefits of a Fiber Testing & Monitoring System

As we've mentioned, some of the biggest frustrations and challenges for service providers
and network operators include broken fibers and degrading cables. Besides making it easier
for technicians to find and repair issues, there are several benefits to using a remote fiber
testing system.

Time Savings / Reduced MTTR

The "Mean Time to Repair" or MTTR, which is a standard way of measuring how long it
takes to resolve an issue from the time it occurs until it is fixed, is an important metric to
network operators. Without a way to accurately locate a physical fiber issue, simply finding
the issue point can take 6-8 hours or sometimes even longer, depending on the complexity of
the network and engaging the appropriate technician teams. The longer this portion of the
process takes, the more money is spent in terms of labor hours, which can be even greater
during nights, weekends, and holidays. Furthermore, the longer the MTTR, the more
frustrating it is for users, so extended downtimes can result in a loss of customers and
revenue.

By installing a remote fiber monitoring system, a network operator will be automatically

notified in real-time when an issue occurs, along with receiving the precise location (down to
a few meters) of the event. As a result, the MTTR can be reduced significantly along with
related costs when repair crews can be dispatched directly to the right place, sometimes
before the user even notices there is a problem.

Reduces or Eliminates Costly Repair Labor and Tasks

Each time a repair crew needs to be dispatched to a fiber break, the operational expense
account increases. Industry estimates show that for most service providers, the cost of simply
starting up and rolling out a truck to investigate a fiber event can cost between $100 and
$500. For some large telco carriers, a single fiber break may involve rolling multiple trucks
and crews, further multiplying these operational costs. For smaller network operators, they
may rely on 3rd party contractors for truck rolls and repairs, which can be even more costly
per instance. Considering this is before the added time and labor costs to travel to the
location and resolve the issue, it is very expensive to repair fiber problems.

By installing and utilizing a fiber monitoring system, truck rolls are reduced or completely
eliminated. Time spent finding the location of the issue is drastically minimized, saving large
sums of money and labor hours on an annual basis, not to mention maximizing network
uptime for users and customers.

Improved Performance Monitoring and Advanced Warnings

An installed fiber testing system can help to provide a level of performance monitoring in the
sense that potential issues may be identified in advance of becoming a more serious issue. By
routinely checking fibers, the system can spot increased signal loss in the fiber, like a
degrading splice or where a fiber may have been mishandled or has become slightly crimped
during other network maintenance. This allows a repair team to make the necessary repairs or
improvements before it becomes a larger issue.

Establish Baseline Fiber Performance References

Because these systems typically start by taking a baseline measurement of any connected
fiber and then monitor continuously against that baseline, it then provides an improved
understanding of the expected performance for a given fiber. Once the baseline has been
established along with other “known” elements in the fiber (splices, connection points, etc.),
the network operator has a better sense of where performance should be on a regular basis.
Furthermore, since most monitoring systems allow for the adjustment of sensitivity
thresholds for alarms, if it turns out that too many false alarms are being generated against the
initial baseline, the user can adjust the sensitivity to a more ideal setting that establishes a
revised baseline taking into account these other false alarm-causing variables.

Identifying Frequent Problem Areas

Once monitoring network fibers via a regular test procedure, are specific cable segments or
links experiencing more issues and alarms than others? Utilizing this type of system can help
to better spot areas of the network that may be experiencing more issues than others, allowing
the network operator to improve safeguards or shift repair team resources to better address
recurring problem areas.

Who Should Use Remote Fiber Monitoring Systems?

It's hard to imagine a situation in which remote fiber monitoring would not be useful. Large
telecom and data center enterprises that have thousands of fibers installed require more
efficient solutions for determining where and when a break happens. Smaller companies that
simply don't have the budget for a dedicated technical crew can install a remote monitoring
system to make call-outs simpler and faster—simply knowing where and when breakages
occur reduces the hourly cost you'll have to pay a contractor.

But what about cities and electric utilities?

With fiber serving as the backbone of virtually all communications networks, cities and
utilities are similarly expected to maintain their networks and keep a high level of
availability/uptime. The large areas typically covered by a single metro means that the list of
environmental issues that can happen is vast. Additionally, critical communications
infrastructure like 9-1-1 emergency services and electric utilities must be operational at all
times, so for these types of services, availability is not just desirable; it is absolutely critical.

As investment in infrastructure grows at a state and local level, more and more emphasis will
be placed on uptime and network performance.

A single unexpected event can have a disastrous impact on your network, whether a bad
driver knocks down a pole, a squirrel chews through a cable, or someone maliciously tampers
or attempts to cut communications. Resource expenses and OpEx grow rapidly when
technicians are forced to waste hours of time across miles of fiber infrastructure to find a
single break. With many municipalities operating under budget constraints, a fiber
monitoring system is a small investment that will pay for itself very quickly.

Remote fiber monitoring is also important for rural applications. If you consider that most
rural installations have less support and resources than their major city counterparts, fiber
monitoring systems help to keep people connected while saving service providers time that
would otherwise be spent on troubleshooting.