eODN A New Concept for Managing Massive Optical Fibers

Challenges to ODN Management

As the bandwidth need of Internet users has increased, PON-based optical fiber access technologies have become the dominant choice for broadband network construction. The biggest advantage of PON is that an optical distribution network (ODN) between the central office and user end is made up of passive optical devices, and this minimizes the number of nodes that need to be maintained. However, ODN requires higher capex than OLT and ONU because it takes much longer to construct and cannot be easily expanded. ODN accounts for more than 50% of total investment in FTTH deployments. Therefore, scientific planning, construction and maintenance of ODN are important to ensure the network’s long-term stability and scalability. As FTTH is being widely deployed, potential problems with ODN have surfaced. Challenges with ODN include

• lack of a unified ODN support platform. Traditionally, market analysis, planning and design, construction, and maintenance for ODN have been treated as separate processes. This makes marketing difficult because marketers have no idea about the actual network capabilities or which regions high-speed broadband services can be deployed to. Network construction staff cannot properly determine how to deploy high-speed broadband services in various regions, and   network construction does not sufficiently meet customer needs. Planners use a diverse range of tools, including Google Earth, CAD, and Excel and critical information is easily lost when these tools are used in alternation. Although supported by a geographic information system (GIS), maintenance staff are usually tired up with manual importing and exporting of bulk data, and this is inefficient and results in errors because variation in ODN resources cannot be reflected to the GIS platform. It is therefore imperative to build a unified ODN support platform so that the network is constructed according to market and maintenance needs. The platform exists for the life of the ODN and enables data sharing and collaboration between staff involved in each process. 
• difficulty in managing massive optical fibers. In a traditional optical network, each fiber has a paper label affixed to it for port identification and routing management. However, in FTTH deployment, both the number and capacity of cross-connecting boxes increases sharply because each user requires one to two cores of optical fiber. This makes it difficult to find the target fiber(s). Because most of the ODN devices are installed outdoors, paper labels easily weather and become difficult to read. Moreover, all information about mass fiber deployment has to be manually entered or modified. It is difficult to ensure accuracy of the GIS system if information is updated in an untimely manner. Paper label management therefore causes much inconvenience for engineers and maintenance staff.

A new model for managing massive optical fibers in large-scale FTTH deployments is required. The new management model can incorporate automatic fiber locating, accurate port identification, and automatic information update.

eODN: Smart Full-lifecycle Support Platform

ZTE has developed eODN, a smart full-lifecycle support platform based on GIS and smart electronic identification systems. The platform incorporates ODN planning, design, construction, and maintenance. This means the ODN deployment can be monitored in real time and ensures that it can be sustainably developed.

GIS-based grid access network platform

ODN is a telecom infrastructure network. Because FTTH is deployed widely, geography and municipal planning regulations need to be taken into account in ODN planning and design. ZTE’s eODN has a GIS-based planning and management platform that can create an ODN deployment proposal that adheres to city planning regulations. The platform also allows image data to correspond to network attributes. The attributes, locations, and contents labeled with text are updated in real time as information about roads and municipal engineering changes. This reduces the need for labeling, adjustment, and modification. 

eODN is based on geographical grids. It correlates and analyzes users and resources within a region so that services and resources can be accurately matched. This is important for broadband planning and deployment, resource allocation, and business development. 

Smart electronic labels for managing massive optical fibers

Each fiber core is a “nerve” of an ODN, and an operator must have expert knowledge about the operational status of each nerve. ZTE has introduced smart electronic labels to replace paper labels for managing massive optical fibers in ODN.

eODN uses smart chips to store important information about a connection on an ODN node. This information includes a connector's ID, which is unique in the network and is used for matching and locating a port. Detailed information about a fiber—including routing, occupation, and maintenance history—can be viewed through the ODN background management system. With electronic labels, an operator can acquire information about all optical resources and routing in an ODN and manage the PON. Smart electronic labels can be embedded in large-capacity optical distribution frames or cross-connection boxes, and the information from all fibers and ports can be acquired immediately. Such efficiency is not possible with manual identification. 

 A smart electronic label is like a chip that is planted in each fiber and makes equipment more intelligent and able to be monitored. Overall, the PON becomes a perceptible, intelligent network.

Smart terminals for paperless project implementation

In conventional ODN construction and maintenance, engineers printed out a sheet of construction orders from the system platform and completed on-site operations according to the port mapping table affixed to the box panel. After manually recording information during the building of the network, they would return to the office and submit this information to reviewers. This was inefficient and resulted in too much paperwork. Large amounts of paper also made it difficult to locate and review construction data. eODN uses smart terminals to seamlessly connect on-site equipment with the background service system so that project implementation and handover is a paperless process.

• electronic workflow. A background operator can send construction requirements directly to a smart terminal of an engineer. The engineer carries out the work as required and fills in an engineering record using the smart terminal. The record is automatically uploaded through the 3G/WiFi network to the operator, who confirms the engineering and closes the workflow on time.
• automatic acquisition of port information. During on-site operation, an engineer can acquire detailed information such as port occupation, fiber routing, and maintenance history by simply connecting a data line of the smart terminal to the eODN device. If the engineer needs to check a certain user port, they only have to enter the user’s ID number and then a panel showing the eODN layout appears on the smart terminal. The port corresponding to the user is highlighted, and the LED on the related port of the eODN device flickers. In this way, the engineer can accurately locate the target port and fiber to be maintained. After the project engineering is completed, the smart terminal automatically scans and records the latest connection information and sends it back to the background resource system to ensure information about resources is updated in time.
• GPS navigation. An eODN smart terminal is also equipped with accurate GPS navigation function. When an engineer receives a construction order, the terminal automatically determines the best route for the engineer to travel from their current location to arrive at the destination in the shortest time. The smart terminal can also automatically record longitude and latitude information of an eODN device, which enables an engineer to locate the device.

There has been an upsurge of FTTH deployments in recent years. Operators worldwide have been developing new business models and technologies for smart pipes, and have aimed to exploit potential value and long-term benefits in communication pipes. With an intelligent chip planted in equipment, ZTE’s eODN solution overcomes challenges in PONs and helps operators easily deal with large-scale FTTH deployments.