eODN for Intelligent Modernization of Optical Networks

 

Intelligent ODN greatly improves resource management and OAM efficiency in passive optical networks. It makes optical equipment intelligent by synchronizing resource information and automating service flow. Great strides are being made in the standardization of intelligent ODN, and big operators are currently piloting the technology. Large-scale deployment of intelligent ODN is just around the corner.

As research on intelligent ODN progresses, industry has shifted its focus to modernizing existing optical networks. A huge number of fiber resources have been deployed in the early stages of optical network construction. Statistics from the British research firm CRU show that two billion kilometers of optical fiber has been installed since the 1990s. This is enough to circle the earth 50,000 times. In traditional fiber resource management, information about resources is usually statically stored in a resource management system. Inefficient data verification and management causes many fibers to be rendered useless in construction. Roughly 30% of fiber is wasted. The flow-on effect of fiber wastage is increased pipe costs, labor costs, and leasing costs (incurred by the space taken up by useless fiber). Optical fiber is a kind of precious resource that needs to be in service for at least 20 years. Intelligent fiber modernization is a way of revitalizing existing fiber resources to maximize their usage.

Several issues need to be addressed when modernizing an optical network. First, active services must not be affected. This is mandatory for network modernization. Unplugging an active service or re-splicing the ports of an active service for purpose of intelligent upgrade is unacceptable to both operators and subscribers. In this case, the benefits brought about by modernization may not actually offset the negative impact of a severe network interruption. Second, the changes made during modernization can be minimized by reusing existing cabinets, trays, and ports. The cost of replacing all trays and cabinets may approach the cost of rebuilding the network from scratch. Third, modernization must significantly improve fiber resource management. Industry has proposed a solution whereby a 2D code label is attached to each port, and a mobile phone is used to photograph the ports one by one. This only simplifies the reading process, but ports are still not efficiently recorded or managed.  Fourth, the focus of fiber resource modernization should be process optimization. Upgrading hardware without optimizing the software processes will not result in more accurate fiber management. 

Addressing all these issues at the same time is not easy and requires the help of a vendor that has comprehensive technical capabilities. After a long period of developing technology and tracking customer requirements, ZTE has introduced eODN, an intelligent modernization solution. eODN is designed to optimize the management processes for an optical network. Traditional optical node equipment can be upgraded without interrupting active services.  eODN does not require any changes to  cabinets, trays, or optical connectors. Instead, a jacket with an electronic label is added to the connector port, and an interactive circuit is added to the cover plate of the tray. The jacket and cover plate interact through a gold finger or through an RFID to automatically collect port information and visualize construction. eODN also analyzes field resource information, schedules optical routes, and displays topology. With these functions, eODN strengthens traditional resource management systems, which only store static data. After software and hardware have been optimized, network can perform as well as a newly built intelligent ODN.

 

ZTE Ranked No. 1 in World PON Market by Ovum

20 March 2013, Shenzhen ― ZTE has achieved the global No. 1 ranking for shipments of passive optical networking (PON) products according to industry consulting firm Ovum. ZTE was the world’s leading vendor with 42 percent market share globally in shipments of PON optical line terminals (OLTs) in 2012, after the company shipped 1.72 million lines. Based on Ovums data, ZTE also ranked first globally in shipments of optical network terminals (ONTs) and optical network units (ONUs) with 32 percent market share, after the company achieved shipments of more than 13 million lines. Ovums data also showed that ZTE attained this market leadership even though the total number of OLT ports shipped declined between 2011 and 2012.

ZTE’s leading position in the PON market is built on the company’s commitment to technology research and innovation. In 2012, ZTE announced the industry’s first prototype TWDM-PON compliant with the latest standards during the Broadband World Forum, and demonstrated the coexistence and evolution of multiple access technologies including NG-PON2, XG-PON1, GPON, and WDM-PtP on the same platform and ODN. ZTE was also the first in the world to announce a commercial system-class solution using vectoring technology, and set up the first commercial laboratory for XG-PON1. ZTE introduced the industry’s first compact OLT product, and enriched and improved the forms and networking abilities of PON OLT products. ZTE announced eODN, the industry’s first end-to-end full-life-cycle optical operation and maintenance solution, which includes the rack-mounted eMonitor optical path monitoring system. eODN dramatically increases the efficiency of network planning, design, deployment, operation and maintenance, and has already been widely deployed.