Ethernet demarcation devices offer built-in micro-OTDR

June 13, 2013
Metrodata, Optical Zonu offer a new approach to optical fault finding.

As recorded by our sister site Lightwave, Optical Zonu Corp. (OZC) announced that Metrodata’s advanced Ethernet demarcation devices (EDD) are the first to natively support Optical Zonu's fault finding optical transceivers with built-in micro-OTDR (uOTDR) capability. Metrodata's FCM9004 and FCM9002 EDDs will now offer automatic detection, location, and reporting of optical fiber faults when one uses Optical Zonu's patent-pending iSFC transceivers. Metrodata says the new technology will considerably reduce the time and equipment needed to recover from faults.

EDDs are used by communication service providers to configure and police a number of connection performance parameters necessary to comply with customer service level agreements (SLAs). Advanced products like the FCM900x range offer configurable performance parameter thresholds, which can be monitored in-service to detect performance faults down the line, contends Metrodata. The FCM9004 has the ability to detect and locate fiber faults via its management systems. Now, with Metrodata's support of Optical Zonu's Fast Fiber Fault Finder iSFC Transceivers, operators can do just that.

Related: Alcatel-Lucent integrates OTDR into PON 'smart transceiver'

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“Optical Zonu's integrated micro-OTDR allows us to significantly enhance the FCM9004's powerful service-level management capabilities and at line-rate for Gigabit Ethernet services," comments Paul Ingram, operations director, Metrodata Ltd. "This is in addition to the FCM product line's already comprehensive functionality and 'zero-touch commissioning' (ZTC), which Ethernet infrastructure carriers and service providers can appreciate at an attractive price-point."

“We are very pleased to join forces with Metrodata to introduce this 'disruptive' and needed technology to the marketplace," adds Mike Hartmann, VP of sales and marketing for Optical Zonu. “We're talking tremendous opex savings from a new, seamless approach to fault finding. Using Optical Zonu's unique iSFC transceivers and Metrodata's FCM9004 demarcation device, service providers can now radically reduce response times and improve SLA adherence."

Metrodata's FCM9004 Ethernet demarcation device is a customer premises equipment device, designed and manufactured in the U.K. It comes with a standard one-year warranty and U.K.-based technical support. Optical Zonu's iSFC transceivers with built-in uOTDR come with a five-year warranty and U.S.-based technical support.

See: Demarc extensions explained

About the Author

Matt Vincent | Senior Editor

Matt Vincent is a B2B technology journalist, editor and content producer with over 15 years of experience, specializing in the full range of media content production and management, as well as SEO and social media engagement best practices, for both Cabling Installation & Maintenance magazine and its website CablingInstall.com. He currently provides trade show, company, executive and field technology trend coverage for the ICT structured cabling, telecommunications networking, data center, IP physical security, and professional AV vertical market segments. Email: [email protected]

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