A large Tier-1 Carrier in Europe, BT, identified a problematic link on their new converged backbone network. The BT Operation team could not add new 10GbE traffic on the link of 140kms located in the center of England. They suspected that the OSNR could be lower than their design requirement.

After months of debate, BT Design team decided to call on mdi’s eyeD expert team to carry out tests in the field to trouble-shoot the cause of the problem and get an independent opinion. They decided to work with them because of mdi’s unique capability to measure multiple impairments on a link in-service.

The eyeD expert service engineer first created a library module at the carrier labs by taking a sample of ten 10G NRZ signals with the eyeD 360 monitor and its calibration kit. mdi had previously worked on the same system vendor equipment but for a different format.

On Day 1 of the field engagement, the eyeD 360 was connected to a tap port on the DWDM terminal. Right away, mdi’s expert was able to identify on the GUI that the received signals had significant noise (low OSNR) and unusually high chromatic dispersion (very high CD). The measurements confirmed the results and it was clear that the link was not correctly compensated. This came as a surprise and a relief. BT and mdi worked together to find the root cause of the problem and a remedy.

With the critical measurement results BT identified an incorrect Dispersion Compensation Module (DCM). They asked mdi’s service engineer to try a new DCM by inserting it in front of the monitor. The signal cleared on the GUI of the eyeD 360 and the correct value for compensation was confirmed. BT could now order the right part and start the process to fix the link. 

Within 3 days the eyeD expert team was able to calibrate for the new signal type, and identify the incorrect CD compensation without requiring taking traffic down.  Now that the link can be fixed, the Carrier will be able to deploy new 10GbE traffic on this critical route.  BT was also impressed with mdi’s ability to measure true OSNR where the embedded channel analyzer on the DWDM equipment reported higher OSNR values.

Download BT case study

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mdi has initiated a new professional service called eyeD Expert, based on its unique eyeD 360 in-service monitoring tool  and in-house expertise, to help carrier customers with immediate support for WDM and ROADM network rollouts. 

eyeD Expert provides a range of support and professional services to carriers, system vendors and optical fiber infrastructure providers who need focused assistance during scheduled fiber characterization projects, link commissioning activities, or rapid deployment of an expert team to troubleshoot faults on revenue generating infrastructure and identify impairments quickly.

“eyeD Expert grew out of urgent carrier requests in multiple markets worldwide,” said mdi CEO David Wright.
“We’ve gotten calls from teams doing high-priority new link commissioning, asking us to come on-site and help
assess fiber system readiness for a variety of bit rates and formats. And we can do this with a single device,
monitoring multiple impairments. This is a game changing offering, compared to the current mode of operation
that requires taking down traffic or using multiple test-sets.”  Mr. Wright added that “carriers with aging fiber
infrastructure can also benefit from this service to address intermittent problems or increasing incidence of
errors. Our eyeD Expert team can deliver a live debrief with the network technicians.” 
 
The eyeD Expert service covers the same impairments and performance factors as mdi’s recently-launched
eyeD 360 network appliance, the only product available on the market to simultaneously provide power level,
OSNR, CD and PMD monitoring on live optical networks. Since there is no need to take down traffic on
operating circuits, the service and the device are perfectly suited to analysis of links already in operation.
 
At the customer’s choice mdi will deploy the device, and either dispatch an expert technician from the US or
Australia to the field or offer remote consultation to the field personnel. mdi customers, both those using the
eyeD 360 device and those contracting the eyeD Expert service, benefit from access to mdi’s growing database
of fiber characterization profiles. The company is also working with its users to configure additional customer
services, under the umbrella brand of mdi services.
 
The eyeD Expert service is available to any requesting carrier starting in June 2009, with one-week lead time.
Standard fees are applicable, including equipment rental, support for reporting, training and consultation. 
 

Download eyeD Expert data sheet