Turkcell and ZTE conduct Europe's first "Fiber Fingerprint" intelligent ODN trial in Türkiye

• Turkcell and ZTE have collaborated to complete Europe's first "Fiber Fingerprint" trial, significantly improving resource utilization and troubleshooting efficiency of Optical Distribution Network (ODN)
• This collaboration marks a significant milestone in transformation of the passive "dark" ODN pipeline into a "visualized" network, paving the way for the optical access network to evolve into fully digital and intelligent end-to-end infrastructures

Istanbul, Türkiye, 17 February 2025 – ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, partnered with Türkiye's leading telecommunications operator, Turkcell, to conduct the first "Fiber Fingerprint"  trial in Europe. The trial was deployed at Turkcell Kartal Plaza, leveraging ZTE's Fiber Fingerprint line card, external optical multiplexer with an integrated optical switch, and Fiber Fingerprint splitter.

Traditionally, optical access ODN networks have functioned as passive "dark" pipelines, presenting ongoing challenges in resource updates, fault detection, and proactive assessment of optical path quality. ZTE's innovative "Fiber Fingerprint" intelligent ODN solution effectively overcomes these limitations by enabling accurate identification of optical splitter port statuses, intelligent restoration of network topology, and precise detection and localization of optical path quality issues and faults.

This innovative solution lights up "dark" ODN network, offering an efficient, labor-free, and intelligent approach for visualizing ODN topology, enhancing splitter port resource utilization, rapidly locating fault with precision, improving operation and maintenance (O&M) efficiency. These advancements are recognized as pivotal for the future evolution of ODN networks.

The trial was designed to address practical network challenges, ensuring that "Fiber Fingerprint" intelligent ODN solution delivers tangible benefits in live deployments. During the trials, significant improvements were observed across multiple ODN application scenarios:

Accurate Fault Diagnosis: Weak-light faults in feeder, distribution, and drop segments were precisely identified, enhancing network reliability.

Automated ODN Topology Updates: The network topology was automatically refreshed following new Optical Network Terminal (ONT) registrations, streamlining network management.

Enhanced Visibility and Monitoring: ONT information and connection relationships were accurately displayed, enabling more efficient network operations.

Splitter Port Status Detection: The system effectively detected splitter port statuses, classifying them as occupied, idle, directly connected to ONT's, or virtually occupied.

The successful completion of this trial highlights Turkcell's steadfast dedication to improving network quality and creating a superior unified platform for comprehensive optical access network management. Moving forward, Turkcell and ZTE will continue refining algorithms to improve system performance, expand the Fiber Fingerprint solution to wider applications, and accelerate the seamless integration of advanced digital intelligence into ODN infrastructure.

Prof. Dr. Vehbi Çağrı Güngör, Turkcell Chief Network Technologies Officer, said, "At Turkcell, we are committed to advancing innovative solutions that enhance network efficiency and provide exceptional experiences for our customers. The successful trial of the Fiber Fingerprint solution signifies a pivotal advancement in our efforts to transform the Optical Distribution Network (ODN) infrastructure into a more intelligent and reliable system. This innovation addresses longstanding challenges in network management while paving the way for a future characterized by seamless connectivity. We are pleased to collaborate with ZTE on this groundbreaking initiative and anticipate continued success in our partnership."

Peng Aiguang, Senior Vice President of ZTE and Chairman of the Board of Netaş, said, "ZTE is committed to driving innovation in the telecommunications industry, and the Fiber Fingerprint solution is a testament to this commitment. Partnering with Turkcell on Europe's first Fiber Fingerprint trial demonstrates our shared vision of building intelligent and efficient network infrastructures. This solution brings transformative value by enabling precise fault detection, resource optimization, and proactive maintenance. Together with Turkcell, we are setting a new benchmark for ODN evolution and digital transformation."