Prolabs (UK) Ltd. - Experts & Thought Leaders

ProLabs ProTune™ Tuning and Coding system offers a powerful solution to resolve network issues that require fast and immediate responses. Controlling and maintaining inventory levels to meet network emergencies involves holding spare transceivers and will directly impact one’s bottom line. The ProTune™ coding and tuning system consists of an appliance and a powerful cloud-based platform that codes or tunes ProLabs transceivers in one simple step. Transceivers and form factors support The ProTune™ systems not only supports SFP, SFP+, and XFP transceivers, but also QSFP+ and QSFP28 form factors. The ProTune™ coding and tuning system from ProLabs offers network operators the solution for immediate network needs, while reducing the inventory requirements for spares. The ProTune™ appliance is the perfect addition to one’s ‘emergency kit’ for quickly and immediately responding to network outages, reconfiguration and new customer turn-ups. Compatible with existing systems and architectures: Field program optics to be compatible with OEM platforms. Supports SFP/SFP+/XFP/QSFP+/QSFP28 transceiver form factors. Locally powered by USB connection – no AC connection required. Soft carrying case included; rugged case available upon request at an additional cost. Reduces inventory and requirements for spares Tunes SFP+ and XFP tunable optics for spares from any platform and channel. Also supports programming existing optics in inventory to support multiple platforms. Supports Tunable 10G DWDM XFPs and SFP+s for spares for any platform and any channel, and tunable DWDM SFP+s can even support 1G DWDM applications. The full featured ProTune™ software package is a cloud-based application, ensuring network operators information that’s always up to date. The ProTune™ software features Automatically syncs with the cloud to ensure all data is current. Tracks transceiver history. Manages access IDs across the organisation. Allows for remote access of transceivers in the field by ProLabs tech support. In addition to the cloud-based application, the ProTune™ appliance includes an Off-Line Tuning feature (available upon request), which: Offers the capability to remotely tune all ProLabs SFP+ and XFP tunable optics without connecting to the cloud. Provides wavelength agile support to host devices that do not support tunable optics natively. The powerful ProTune™ coding and tuning system puts one in charge.

With ever-growing capacity requirements and the complexity of the future 5G network, it is important for operators to invest in the monitoring and management of networks, in order to maximise network infrastructures and be prepared for 5G. As the demand for increasing bandwidth and higher data rates create increasingly complex networks, more variables are introduced that decrease the average time to failure and increase the average time to repair, if a failure occurs. This coupled with the fact that site visits are expensive, time consuming and can be labour intensive in terms of repairs, means that operators are constantly looking for ways to identify network issues quickly with minimal disruption. Monitoring the optical layer of a network is critical, particularly for fibre laid in locations such as rural communities or remote unmanaged locations. Progressively complex networks For remote sites with no personal presence, if a resource fails an engineer would be dispatched to the site to inspect whether the issue is with the resource itself or the infrastructure, which can be quite costly and time consuming. Complex networks require proactive monitoring in order to prevent fewer downtimes of smaller duration “As consumers continue to demand increasing bandwidth and higher data rates, operators will be looking to invest in their networks to keep up with those growing demands,” said Anthony Clarkson, Technical Director at ProLabs. “This creates progressively complex networks which require proactive monitoring in order to prevent fewer downtimes of smaller duration. In turn this improves uptime and MTTR statistics but can also save money operationally.” Network monitoring team With Optical Channel Monitoring (OCM) the network monitoring team can determine the issue within a couple of minutes, providing valuable optical data for networks which can then be passed onto operators and maintenance companies. OCM can be used both for provisioning and troubleshooting purposes. Through using OCM, network operators can manage fibre and monitor capabilities, giving them greater visibility into their networks which can assist their operators, provisioning and monitoring teams. “Network operators worldwide have already started to realise the potential that Optical Channel Monitoring can bring to their networks,” added Anthony. “OCM currently monitors the full Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) channel range and with Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) monitoring scheduled for the first quarter of 2020, operators will continue to have greater network visibility and enhance their optical networks ready for 5G.”

ProLabs’ recently launched the EON-OMP-2 solution set which is a flexible multi-capability optical platform. Among its wide array of capabilities, is Optical Channel Monitoring (OCM). OCM allows for the remote monitoring of DWDM wavelengths on optical fibres. When it comes to monitoring fibre and ensuring maximum efficiency the fact is, site visits are not only expensive but also time consuming. ProLabs' EON-OMP-2 platform provides valuable insight into information that would normally only be gained by dispatching an engineer to the affected site. ProLabs’ EON-OMP-OCM integrate into standard management systems and each monitored wavelength in a fibre can be given its own alarm thresholds. Network monitoring team For example, at remote sites with no personnel present, when a resource fails is it the resource or the infrastructure? With OCM the network monitoring team can come to a determination within a couple of minutes, reducing the time taken to troubleshoot network issues and can prevent engineers needing to travel to remote sites for maintenance purposes. Having the optical data is valuable both for owned networks and leased resources. OCM can be integrated into the management system and alarm when the optical characteristics of a given channel change. The solution also lends itself well to provisioning teams. How many upgrades have to be rescheduled due to records not being 100% accurate? ProLabs' EON-OMP-OCM can prevent aborted upgrades by allowing the provisioning team full visibility of the used optical wavelengths before an engineer is dispatched – saving both installers and the customers’ time and money.