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WaveLengths 1

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26 OM4 The New Cabling Standard Controlling Launch

ConditionsEncircled Flux Takes Off

Contents

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31

34

32

28

Departments

Telecom MergersHow our Industry is Changing

Cable Management in the Rack SpaceA Comprehensive Guide

36

20

For proper cable management, see page 20

14

Editor’s Intro -The Urge to Merge

Product Tool Box

Market Perspectives

Tech Tips

COMic Relief

Newest ‘Paper View’ Video

Copyright Notice: Advertisements, guest articles and cartoons are protected by copyright ofindividual contributors. All other material © 2011 Fiber Instrument Sales, Inc. All rights reserved.

Editor’s Letter

WaveLengths Staff

Executive Editor

Charles Carino

Graphic Designer

Jessica Natale

Webmaster

Korey Buttenschoen

Distribution Coordinator

Amy Howlett

Technical Advisors

Jim Inman

Ray Wertz

Joe Ceklovsky

John Bruno

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The Urge to MergeWhile preparing the article that appears on page 6, I researched the pros and cons of telecom mergers, particularly the mega mergers that are occurring today. I was surprised that no one took issue with the possible impact that these consolidations could have on the free flow of information. All the arguments seemed focused on how the mergers can affect competition as it relates to consumer prices.

Control of InformationNot so very long ago, the only way that people got their news of the world was through three principal media, namely TV, radio and print publications.

The major media channels in those days were controlled by relatively few corporations which, intentionally or not, influenced what we saw or learned about. Sometimes it’s very subtle, but who owns the news media does matter - it influences what types of events are reported and how the information is presented.

Based on what we know today, a lot of national and world events didn’t happen exactly as we were told by the news media in those days.

Need for VigilanceToday, with the advent of the Internet, we get our news and information from a myriad of sources, and we can discuss issues with people around the world. There are no longer giant media conglomerates controlling all we see and hear. However, in their place are a few giant telecoms that control the communications infrastructure.

To be honest, if powerful telecoms wanted to influence media content, I can’t imagine how they could do it. Nevertheless, something gnaws at the back of my mind suggesting that we need to remain vigilant. The “urge to merge” results, in part, from the desire to control things. We must make sure that powerful corporations don’t regain control over what we see and hear.

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Contributors


BICSI is a professional association supporting the information technology systems (ITS) industry. ITS covers the spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety & security, and audio & video technologies. It encompasses the design, integration and installation of pathways, spaces, fiber- and copper-based distribution systems, wireless-based systems and infrastructure that supports the transportation of information and associated signaling between and among communications and information gathering devices.

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Middle Atlantic Products, Inc. manufactures products for mounting integrated AV systems in Residential, Commercial, Broadcast, and Security applications. Their extensive selection of standard products includes steel rack enclosures, monitoring consoles, data cabling management products, audio and video studio furniture, power distribution products and related accessories.

All products are engineered to maximize system reliability and provide ways to save time and simplify the job. The company’s manufacturing capabilities include laser-fabrication cells which produce smooth edges that are friendly to both cables and contractors hands and arms. Automated forming lines, robots and high-speed turret presses provide quick throughput that allows the company to ship from stock. Founded in 1979 by Chief Engineer and CEO Bob Schluter, the firm maintains manufacturing and administrative facilities in Fairfield, NJ.

Dr. André Girard is a senior member of the technical staff with EXFO and author of several technical works. He is currently responsible for international standards and training and can be reached at [email protected].

Dr. Gang He is principal research scientist with EXFO. He has participated in the development of more than 30 optical testing products and holds 11 patents. He can be reached at [email protected].

Varis C. Hicks is product specialist with EXFO. He has over 15 years of experience in optical fiber testing and can be reached at [email protected].

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Who’s Pulling the Strings?

Mergers & Acquisitions

By Charles CarinoExecutive Editor


Who’s Pulling

With so many telecom mergers occurring in recent years, one might wonder “Who’s pulling the strings?” In other words, who has the most control over our nation’s communications infrastructure? Who decides which telecom mergers and acquisitions should be allowed? How does consolidation affect competition and consumer prices? What do mergers mean for contractors and equipment suppliers?

This article seeks to answer some of these questions and includes a chronological record of multi-billion-dollar deals that provide a sense of the kind of money and power wielded by the major players in our industry.

2012 - Standing on the BrinkAs 2012 approaches, we are standing on the brink of one of the largest telecom mergers in U.S. history. AT&T’s proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile will likely be approved in the first quarter of next year. If the merger is given the green light, AT&T would become the largest wireless carrier in the United States with more than 130 million subscribers. It would be the fourth major consolidation involving a wireless carrier in eight years, following on the heels of AT&T-Cingular (2004), Sprint-Nextel (2005), and Verizon-Alltel (2008).

Opponents of the merger argue that the deal would stifle competition and enable AT&T to dominate the wireless service industry in the U.S. AT&T counters that argument by saying that three-fourths of Americans have access to at least five wireless providers, suggesting this won’t change significantly after the merger.

So, what are we to believe? There are arguments on both sides of the issue that could fill up dozens of pages, more than we have room for here. More info on the pending AT&T / T-Mobile merger can be found at www.sunlightfoundation.com.The following are some pros and cons of mergers in general.

Merger PerspectivesOn the negative side, it can be argued that having fewer corporations means less competition, which can result in higher consumer prices. Fewer competitors can also mean less motivation for companies to deliver good customer service.

On the positive side, there can be efficiencies to be gained from mergers and acquisitions that can lower the operating costs of a company. In theory at least, this could result in lower prices to consumers.

Mergers also help solve the problem of overcapacity, which our industry is subject to from time to time.

Another argument sometimes made in favor of mergers is that large corporations invest more in R&D, which results in better products and services. Offsetting this argument somewhat

is the fact that many innovative services in the digital age originated with private individuals.

Motivation is another thing to consider. Are giant telcos trying to gain more even power and influence? Or, are they merely trying to survive? Today, landline companies are losing customers in droves to wireless companies. A landline company that wants to acquire a wireless competitor may look like it wants to dominate the market when in fact it may only want to stop the massive loss of their existing “wired” customers. AT&T doesn’t fall neatly under this category, since it is already the second largest wireless carrier in the U.S. So what’s AT&T’s motive? The company is arguing that its merger with T-Mobile will enable the two companies to combine their wireless spectrum holdings. This would provide more network capacity and result in better service to customers. AT&T also states that the merger will enable the company to expand LTE to 95 percent of the U.S. population, including rural areas. The company notes that extending broadband service to rural America is one of our country’s stated objectives.

The ‘Public Interest’ Yardstick The deciding factor for regulators when considering a proposed telecom merger usually boils down to this: Is it in the “public interest”? Unfortunately, the “public interest” yardstick is largely subjective. A skilled lobbyist can craft an argument that makes pretty much anything seem like it is in the public interest. AT&T is spending heavily on their lobbying efforts to convince regulators that their proposed merger is in the public interest.

There are several indicators that regulators will likely vote in favor of the merger. For example, last July a 57-page report was published by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). It concluded that a decade of industry consolidation had actually resulted in lower prices to consumers that were “approximately 50 percent less than 1999 prices.” The GAO report also states that consolidation provided “smoother, more uninterrupted service” for many customers and in some cases reduced roaming fees.

The telecom industry continually experiences merger activity as new technology becomes available, consumer needs evolve and overcapacity sets in. The AT&T / T-Mobile deal may in fact be justified. Then again, it may not. One thing is certain; a deal of this magnitude deserves careful scrutiny.


1987 - FleetCall is founded.This wireless phone company became known as Nextel in 1993.

Cellular One acquired by SBC. Cellular One was the cellular business of Metromedia.

1982 - AT&T agrees to breakup. After a long legal battle with the US Department of Justice, AT&T finally agrees to break itself up, resulting in the creation of seven “Baby Bells.”

1984 - ‘Baby Bells’ are born. AT&T’s existing local phone companies become Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, Ameritech, NYNEX, Pacific Telesis, Southwestern Bell, and US West.

1986 - GTE Sprint merges with US Telecom. The new corporate entity is called “Sprint” and begins competing with AT&T for long-distance business.

1988 - Pacific Northwest Cellular is founded. The company name is later changed to VoiceStream.

1994 - AT&T buys McCaw Cellular. McCaw Cellular is one of the earliest wireless service providers. Although the company was co-owner (with Southwestern Bell) of the Cellular One name, McCaw cellular began using the AT&T name instead. Today, Cellular One is still used by Southwestern Bell.

AirTouch Wireless Services. Pacific Telesis decides to offer its wireless services as part of AirTouch.

1995 - Southwestern Bell officially becomes SBC Communications. Not a merger, simply a name change.

1999 - SBC buys Ameritech

Vodafone Airtouch FoundedThe new company is the result of a merger between AirTouch and the British firm Vodafone.

2000 - QWEST acquires US West

Bell Atlantic merges with GTE to form Verizon Communications.

Verizon Wireless foundedThis is a result of a joint venture of Vodafone Airtouch and Bell Atlantic.

1997 - SBC acquires Pacific Telesis.

WorldCom announces plans to acquire MCI. Regulators approved the deal in 1998. After the acquisition, the company name is changed to MCI WorldCom.

1996 - Bell Atlantic and NYNEX together again.Two of the original Baby Bells reunite as Bell Atlantic acquires NYNEX. This is viewed by some as a partial reversal of the AT&T breakup.

Telecom ‘Key Events’ Timeline


2000 - QWEST acquires US West

Bell Atlantic merges with GTE to form Verizon Communications.

Verizon Wireless foundedThis is a result of a joint venture of Vodafone Airtouch and Bell Atlantic.

2001 - Cingular foundedThe new company results when SBC and BellSouth decide to combine their wireless businesses.

2002 - The AT&T Mobility wireless data network begins. This Cingular initiative is called “Project Genesis.”

Deutsche Telekom becomes T-Mobile.The huge German telecommunications firm, Deutsche Telekom, acquired VoiceStream in 2001. In 2002 it changed the name of its U.S. operations to T-Mobile USA.

2003 - WiMAX firm Clearwire founded

WorldCom becomes MCI. After its well-publicized accounting scandal, WorldCom adopts the MCI name.

2004 - Cingular acquires AT&T Wireless.

Qwest sells off its wireless assets and becomes a reseller for Sprint.

2005 - Sprint buys Nextel, creating Sprint Nextel.

SBC acquires AT&T and adopts the AT&T name. Verizon buys MCI

2006 - AT&T acquires BellSouth.The purchase is intended to reinforce AT&T’s position as a leading provider of business voice, data/Internet and wireless services.

2008 - XOHM merges with Clearwire. XOHM is Sprint Nextel’s wireless broadband unit. As a result of the merger Sprint gets 54% ownership of the new company.

2011 - CenturyLink acquires QuestOn April 1, CenturyLink completed its acquisition of Qwest Communications, creating the third largest telecommunications provider (based on access lines) in the United States.

Pending AT&T acquisition of T-Mobile U.S.The $39 billion purchase of T-Mobile from Deutsche Telekom is expected to take place in 2012.


Merger ManiaHistorically, the telecom industry has been subject to many mergers and acquisitions. The following includes billion dollar deals that have shaped our industry, which are in addition to those shown on the previous pages. A few of the proposed mergers were blocked by the Justice Department over fears that they would hinder competition.

1990 - 2006January 10, 1990 - Time Warner, the world’s largest media conglomerate, came into being when Warner Communications Inc. and Time Inc. completed their $14.9 billion merger.

October 11, 1996 - Time Warner and Turner Broadcasting System finalize their $7.6 billion merger.

October 4, 1999 - Clear Channel reveals plans to take over AMFM, which is the number two radio chain, in a $23 billion deal.

January 10, 2000 - America Online agrees to acquire Time Warner Inc. The $135 billion deal is the largest media merger in history.

November 3, 2000 - Viacom agrees to purchase BET in a $3 billion deal.

October 28, 2001 - EchoStar announces plans to merge with DirectTV in a $25.8 billion deal. The U.S. Justice Department blocked the merger. The union would have enabled EchoStar to dominate the U.S. satellite TV market.

December 19, 2001 - Comcast Corp. reveals a $52 billion merger agreement with AT&T’s broadband unit. The new company, named AT&T Comcast Corp., would have over 22 million subscribers.

April 10, 2003 - News Corp. agrees to a $6.6 billion deal that would give it control of Hughes Electronics, which is the parent company of DirecTV.

February 17, 2004 - Cingular Wireless agrees to a $41 billion deal to buy AT&T Wireless Services Inc. The deal would create the largest mobile phone company in the nation.

January 27, 2005 - SBC Communications Inc. unveils plans to buy AT&T for $16 billion. The new company would combine AT&T’s global IP-based networks with SBC’s local broadband and wireless assets.

February 14, 2005 - Verizon Communications agrees to buy MCI for more than $6.7 billion. The agreement trumps a bid for MCI by Qwest Communications.

April 8, 2005 - Two giant cable companies, Time Warner and Comcast Corp., agree to a $17.6 billion deal to acquire bankrupt cable operator Adelphia Communications Corp.

October 9, 2006 - Google, which operates the Internet’s leading search engine, unveils plans to buy YouTube for $1.65 billion.

2007February 20, 2007 - An agreement among rivals was achieved when Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio announced merger plans. The new company would be worth $13 billion.

March 15, 2007 - Cisco Systems, the largest provider of Internet equipment, agrees to acquire WebEx for $3.2 billion. WebEx creates online collaborative software.

The Personal Impact of Mergers If done for the right reasons, mergers and acquisitions can make our industry stronger and more profitable for everyone. However, in the short term, it can be a painful experience if the company that you so worked hard for over many years is gobbled up by another corporation. You could find yourself on the street.

Equipment SuppliersIf you are a “preferred” supplier for a company being taken over in a merger or acquisition, it is conceivable that you could continue working for the merged company. However, don’t count on it. Management of both companies will be looking to streamline operations, which will likely include dealing with fewer vendors.

ContractorsA key to surviving in an industry that is prone to “merger mania” is to not rely on any one company as your primary source of income, not matter how comfortable the relationship may be. Instead, cultivate business with a range of firms. That way, you can survive if one of your corporate customers were to merge.

TechniciansMassive employee layoffs often occur after a merger. The more skills you have, the less chance that you will be among those people who are let go. Acquire skills and certifications in technical areas beyond what your current job requires. Even if you do need to find new employment, your skills will give you an edge over other job seekers.


April 16, 2007- Google agrees to pay $3.1 billion to buy Doubleclick, a web advertising network.

May 21, 2007 - In a three-way $25 billion deal, wireless provider Alltel Corp. agrees to be purchased by New York’s Goldman Sachs and TGP Capital, which is based in Texas.

June 29, 2007 - AT&T announces a $2.8 billion deal to buy Dobson Communications Corp. (Cellular One), a rural wireless carrier.

September 25, 2007 - Shareholders of U.S. radio operator Clear Channel Communications approve a buyout worth nearly $20 billion. The offer came from two private equity firms, Bain Capital Partners and Thomas H. Lee Partners.

October 26, 2007 - A private investment group agrees to buy Alltel Corp. Atlantis Holdings LLC was willing to pay $27.5 billion to acquire this major wireless carrier.

2008May 21, 2008 - Time Warner’s cable television, and its division Time Warner Cable, announced that they will separate. Under the arrangement, Time Warner Cable would pay a $10.9 billion dividend to Time Warner shareholders.

June 5, 2008 - Verizon announced that it would buy wireless carrier Alltel for $28.1 billion. Alltel had 13 million customers in 34 states and the deal would put Verizon ahead of AT&T as the nation’s leading wireless carrier.

July 29, 2008 - After winning a long battle with regulators, Sirius and XM completed their merger. The new company, Sirius XM Radio Inc., would have more than 18.5 million satellite radio subscribers.

2009December 3, 2009 -- General Electric and cable company Comcast agree to a $37 billion joint venture that will eventually provide control of NBC Universal, creating one of the largest entertainment companies in the U.S.

2010April 22, 2010 - CenturyTel announced that it would acquire Qwest Communications International. The purchase would create a communications giant that would serve customers in 37 states. The deal involved a stock swap worth $10.6 billion.

June 14, 2010 - Cable operator Cablevision agrees to buy Bresnan Communications Co. The $1.37 billion deal would expand Cablevision’s market share for cable and high-speed Internet services the western U.S.

2011February 14, 2011 - In an effort to improve its ability to transport broadband data and video, EchoStar Corp. announced plans to buy Hughes Communications Inc., a satellite Internet services company, for $1.34 billion.

February 18, 2011 - Radio broadcaster Cumulus Media offered to buy Citadel Broadcasting for $2.4 billion. The proposed deal would give the radio broadcaster 570 radio stations, and would cover approximately 120 U.S. markets.

May 10, 2011 - Microsoft announces plans to buy Skype, an Internet telephone service, for $8.5 billion.

June, 2011 – As of this writing, the proposed $39 billion mega-merger between AT&T and T-Mobile is pending, with regulatory approval expected in first quarter 2012. This would effectively consolidate the wireless service industry to only three main companies: AT&T, Verizon and Sprint.

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The FCC has no authority to approve or disapprove corporate mergers. However, the FCC does have the responsibility of assigning telecommunications licenses. When a proposed merger or acquisition involves the assignment or transfer of telecommunications licenses, the FCC renders its opinion regarding whether the license transfer is likely to hinder competition. The FCC’s opinion is carefully considered by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) before the final decision is made regarding a telecom merger or acquisition.

The following, which is excerpted from various FCC Opinions and Orders, provides insight into how regulators evaluate proposed telecom mergers. Decisions in these key cases have effectively become the standards by which future mergers would be judged.

NYNEX and Bell Atlantic, 1997In order to find that a merger is in the public interest, we must, for example, be convinced that it will enhance competition. A merger will be pro-competitive if the harms to competition …are outweighed by benefits that enhance competition.

We must be especially concerned about mergers between incumbent monopoly providers and possible rivals during this initial period of implementation of the 1996 Act.

We also note that we are concerned about the impact of the declining number of large incumbent LECs, on this Commission’s ability to carry out properly its responsibilities… Reducing the number of Bell Companies makes it easier to coordinate actions among them, and increases the relative weight of each company’s actions on average performance.

Because we approve this merger with conditions, thereby reducing the number of independently controlled large incumbent LECs, future applicants bear an additional burden in establishing that a proposed merger will, on balance, be pro-competitive and therefore serve the public interest, convenience and necessity.

WorldCom and MCI, 1998As the harms to the public interest become greater and more certain, the degree and certainty of the public interest benefits must also increase commensurately in order for us to find that the transaction on balance serves the public interest, convenience, and necessity. This sliding scale approach suggests that, where, as here, potential harms are unlikely, Applicants’ demonstration of potential benefits need not be as certain.

Although we do not believe that Applicants have provided sufficient evidence to support all of their claims, we conclude that Applicants have made a sufficient showing here of potential benefits to find that, on balance, the merger is in the public interest, convenience, and necessity.

Because, as described below, we find that the merger will result in a stronger competitor, we need not resolve whether the Applicants have fully substantiated all of their alleged cost savings in order to find that this merger is, on balance, in the public interest.

Ameritech and SBC, 1999 We conclude that approval of the applications to transfer…is in the public interest because such approval is subject to significant and enforceable conditions designed to mitigate the potential public interest harms of the merger…

We conclude…that the proposed merger of these RBOC’s threatens to harm consumers of telecommunications services …The asserted benefits of the merger, absent conditions, do not outweigh these significant harms, as described within.

The proposed conditions, however, change the public interest balance.

Harms:• Remove one of the most significant potential competitors• Substantially reduce the Commission’s ability to implement the market-opening requirements of the Act by comparative practice oversight methods.• Increase the incentive and ability of the merged entity to discriminate against its rivals, particularly with respect to advanced services.

Conditions will further the following goals, assuming satisfactory compliance:• Promoting advanced services deployment• Ensuring that in-region local markets are more open• Fostering out-of-region competition• Improving residential phone service• Enforcing the merger order

GTE and Bell Atlantic, 2000…absent conditions, the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE will harm consumers of telecommunications services by:

(a) Denying them the benefits of future probable competition between the merging firms;(b) Undermining the ability of regulators and competitors to implement the pro-competitive, deregulatory framework for local telecommunications…(c) Increasing the merged entity’s incentives and ability to discriminate against entrants into the local markets of the merging firms.

Conditions designed to:• Mitigate the potential public interest harms• Enhance competition in the local exchange and exchange access markets• Strengthen the merged firm’s incentives to expand competition outside of its territories

SBC and AT&T, 2005This merger would combine one of the largest regional Bell Operating Companies with one of the largest providers of interexchange and competitive local service. These benefits, which are likely to flow to consumers, relate to• Enhancements to national security and government services

Telecom Mergers“ “FCC’s Role in


Everyone is looking for the best deal, the President wants to increase the bottom line, the Purchasing Agent wants to reduce costs, the Sales Manager wants to deliver the big new order and the Engineering Staff needs to make it all work. How do you make everyone happy?

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• Efficiencies related to vertical integration• Economies of scope and scale• Cost savings

Moreover, to the extent that the merger increases concentration in relevant markets, we find that the public interest benefits of the merger outweigh any potential public interest harms. …our analysis of the competitive effects of the merger, which focuses on the following key services: • Special access competition• Retail enterprise competition• Mass marketing competition• Internet backbone competition• Wholesale interchange competition• International competition• Applicant’s commitments

Verizon and MCI, 2005 This merger would combine one of the largest regional Bell Operating Companies with one of the largest providers of interexchange and competitive local service. …we conclude that significant public interest benefits are likely to result from this transaction.These benefits, which are likely to flow to consumers, relate to • Enhancements to national security and government services• Efficiencies related to vertical integration• Economies of scope and scale• Cost savings

AT&T and BellSouth, 2007This merger would combine two regional Bell Operating Companies (BOCs). AT&T and BellSouth offer competing services in certain communications markets, and BellSouth supplies wholesale inputs relied upon by AT&T and other competitors in various retail markets. Thus, the proposed merger requires us to examine its effects on competition – which are both horizontal and vertical in nature – in a wide range of significant communications markets.We further conclude that significant public interest benefits are likely to result from this transaction. These benefits, which are likely to flow to consumers, relate to: • Accelerated broadband deployment• Enhancements to Multichannel Video Programming Distributor (MVPD) and programming competition • National security, disaster recovery and government services • Unification of Cingular’s ownership • Efficiencies related to vertical integration • Economies of scope and scale • Cost savings

I


Internationally Standardized Multimode Launching Conditions

At last, reliable test and operation performances

By Dr. Gang He, Dr. André Girard and Varis Hicks

n recent years, the enterprise networking environment has changed significantly and has seen an explosive increase in data transmission, compounded by the relatively recent increase in the available local area network (LAN) bandwidth to the desktop from 10 megabytes per second (Mb/s) to 100 Mb/s, to 1 gigabit per second (Gb/s) and now 10 Gb/s.

Currently, most building backbone LANs typically are based on multimode optical fiber. Appropriately selected multimode launch specifications can restrict the modes used by the transmitters primarily to those providing the highest possible effective modal bandwidth (EMB) while still allowing for low-cost transceivers.

For most legacy multimode networking applications, the attenuation uncertainty due to mode launch variation was not a concern. However, with new high-speed applications, multimode launch conditions (MLC) specified in most legacy attenuation measurement standards are no longer satisfactory, and the evolution of high-speed multimode network technology has raised the requirements for system attenuation.

In the final draft of IEC 61280-4-1 Ed. 2.0, Fiber optic communication subsystem test procedures - Part 4-1: Installed cable plant - Multimode attenuation

measurement, new MLCs are now defined by the encircled flux (EF) template for more accurate and reproducible attenuation measurements in today’s demanding high speed LAN applications. This article overviews these new mode Launch conditions, comparing the light source power meter (LSPM) approach to multimode link attenuation measurement with the optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) method, which easily matches the LSPM method when the launch conditions fall when the encircled flux template.

New Encircled Flux Template for Attenuation Measurement

Until recently, the following MLC and measurement approaches were used:

• Overfilled launch (OFL) + 1 kilometer (km) of multimode fiber

• 70/70 (steady-state launch)

• Coupled power ratio (CPR): OFL + mandrel (ex: CPR C1 + mandrel) CPR (Class 1 to 5) CPR + high-order mode power (HOMP)

• Near field (NF) and far field (FF) with diameter requirements for relative power (RP) at: • 5 percent or • 75 percent, 15 percent and 5 percent

• Mode power distribution (MPD) template + tight CPR (1 decibel [dB] tolerance)

The new EF metric is defined as the fraction of

‘Encircled Flux’ Testing Takes OffVariable ‘Launch Conditions’ can impair the accuracy of fiber optic tests. New Encircled Flux testing standards help solve the problem!


cumulative NF integrated power to the total output power. This power ratio is obtained as a function of the radial distance from the core optical center and is determined from the NF measurement of the light coming from the end of a reference-grade launch jumper.

The EF template for attenuation (EFTatt) consists of a target (the template center) and two limits (upper and lower bounds), which are the EF values for a set of particular radial control points. In fact, the EF target corresponds to slightly under filled MLCs, providing good correlation between the attenuation and the connector lateral offset. When setting the MLCs in the EF template of a multiconnector link, connector attenuation is independent of connector location EFTatt, limits are chosen to constrain the variation on measured attenuation within + x percent (on a dB basis) or a threshold, whichever is the largest, of the value that would be measured if the target launch conditions were used. The EFTatt and the threshold are different for different multimode fiber types (e.g., 50/125micrometers [mm] or 62.5/125 mm) and sourcewavelengths (e.g. 850 or 1300 nanometers [nm]).

Figure 1 shows the EFTatt at 850 nm for 50/125 mm multimode fiber, with a threshold of 0.08 dB. Correct MLCs include the correct MPD and central launch requirements at the output of the launching cable connector. The correct MPD is determined by the EFTatt, and the central launch is controlled by the overall concentricity of a reference-grade connector (or jumper).

Compliant MLCs imply that the EF value falls within the EFTatt at the particular radial control points from the reference-grade connector. Reference-grade connectors can effectively be assessed by verifying that the attenuation between them is less than 0.1 dB when using the MLCs around the EF target.

Attenuation Measurements Using LSPMand OTDR Methods

Multimode fiber link attenuation is measured using the LSPM or OTDR methods. Fundamentally, the LSPM approach is straightforward and normally yields the best results. The OTDR technique is more complicated since the probing pulse travels through the forward and backward paths of the link under test, and the MPD of the back reflected pulse is difficult to know and control.

While considerable studies (both theoretical and experimental) have been conducted on LSPM-based

Figure 1: EFTatt at 850 nm for 50/125mm multimode fiber.

Figure 2: Experimental setup for attenuation measurement of multimode fiber (MMF) links fusing an LSPM vs. an OTDR.


Experiment and Discussion on Three Different Links

There are three main contributors to link attenuation:

• Connection loss (connectors and splices)• Intrinsic fiber attenuation• Macrobending loss

Multimode fiber link attenuation dependence on MLCs arises from the differential mode attenuation (DMA)properties of the contributors and the evolution of the mode power distribution (MPP) along the link. Tobetter explain the relative properties of these various contributors, three links were built for this experiment-one long, one short and one that includes a macrobend.

Long Link

For the experiment on the long link, the 3 kilometer (km) link shown in Figure 4 consists of the following:

• Connector C1• 2 km 50/125 mm multimode fiber with two splices• Connector pair C2 (mated connectors)• 1 km 50/125 mm multimode fiber cable with two splices• Connector C3

As shown in Figure 4, at 850 nm, the attenuation is relatively insensitive to MLCs, and the LSPM and OTDR methods exhibit excellent agreement for all cases. This agreement results from non-DMA factors dominating the long link attenuation, such as absorption and scattering within the fiber, as opposed to DMA factors like high-order mode (HOM) filtering. OTDR-measured attenuation tends to be slightly lower in overfilled conditions and slightly higher in underfilled conditions. This is due to the bidirectional nature of OTDR measurements with the backscattered light experiencing additional mode scrambling.

For the long link, Figure 4 shows that the attenuation is more sensitive to the MLCs in the 1300 nm window than at 850 nm because DMA plays a significant role on total attenuation at 1300 nm as opposed to 850 nm where the non-DMA part is predominant. As is the case at 850 nm, good agreement is found between the LSPM and OTDR methods, especially for total attenuation, OTDR-measured attenuation is flatter because of the mode scrambling effect on the backscattering.

attenuation measurement, little has been done on the OTDR method. However, an experimental investigation was carried out to reconcile these two methods by comparing LSPM- and OTDR-based link attenuation measurements with EF-based MLC parameters. Figure 2 shows the experimental setups.

In order to eliminate any uncertainty arising from wavelength dependence, an 850 nm Fabry-Perot laser is used for both LSPM and OTDR. A proprietary speckle scrambler, functionally equivalent to the scrambler described in TIA/EIA-455-203, Launched Power Distribution Measurement Procedure for Graded Index Multimode Fiber Transmitters, is used for reducing the modal noise.

The variable mode conditioner shown in Figure 2 generates the required different MLCs at the output of a launching cable. MLCs are defined using the EF metric, characterized at five radial points, or bounds, as defined in final draft of IEC 61280-4-1 Ed. 2.

Figure 3 shows the EF curves of MLCs used at 850 and 1300 nm with the corresponding target, lower and upper limits for 50/125 mm multimode fiber. MLC0 is the most overfilled and MLC7 is the most underfilled. MLC3 is close to the target launch parameters. MLC2 and MLC3 are close to low-bound parameters, and MLC4 is close to high-bound parameters, as defined in the final draft of IEC 61280-4-1 Ed 2.

Figure 3: EF of various MLC’s for 50/125mm multimode fiber at 850 and 1300nm


Short Link

For the experiment on the short link with multiple connections, the 120 meter (m) link shown in Figure 5 consists of the following:

• Connector C1• 20 m 50/125 mm multimode fiber cable with three splices• Connector pair C2 (mated connectors)• 50 m 50/125 mm multimode fiber cable• Connector pair C3 (mated connectors)• 50 m 50/125 mm multimode fiber cable• Connector C4

As seen in Figure 5, measurements show that attenuation at 850 and 1300 nm is more sensitive to MLCs, since the MPD-dependent connection attenuation contributes significantly. In particular, in under-filled conditions at 850 nm (MLC5 and MLC6), the LSPM and OTDR methods yield different values - again, a result of the additional mode scrambling experienced by the OTDR pulse on its return path, filling the HOM and resulting in higher attenuation. Around the target or between the lower and upper limits (between MLC1 and MLC4), LSPM/OTDR-measured attenuation values are in very good agreement, with variation meeting the target launch requirements (+ 10 percent).

Macrobend

As shown in Figure 6, the experiment on the macrobending link includes the following:

• Connector C1• 25 m 50/125mm rnultimode fiber cable• Connector pair C2 (mated connecters)• 18mm diameter/10 fiber turn mandrel• Connector pair C3 (mated connectors)• Another 25 m 50/125 mm multimode fiber cable• Connector C4

Figure 6 shows experimental attenuation results as a function of MLCs. LSPM-based attenuation is offset higher by about 10 percent tor MLC1 to MLC5, both at 850 and 1300 nm. The macrobending (18 mm diameter and 10 turns) strongly filters the HOMs in the MPDs

Figure 5: Experiment on a short link - setup and attenuation measurement

Figure 4: Experiment on a long link - setup and attenuation measurement

Figure 6: Experiment on a link, including a macrobend - setup and attenuation results


corresponding to these MLCs. As a result, the OTDR backscattered light is more underfilled than the initial MLCs, despite the scrambling effect exciting HOMs.

Since the OTDR effectively measures forward and backward attenuations and averages them, the overall result is a lower OTDR-measured attenuation from MLC1 to MLC5. On the other hand, for the deep underfilled MLC6 and MLC7, the scrambling-induced excitation of the HOMs during backscattering causes the back-scattered light to be more overfilled compared with the MPD before the macrobending, resulting in a higher measured attenuation. Except for a small attenuation offset, the variation of attenuation as a function of MLCs agrees very well between the OTDR and LSPM methods for MLC1 to MLC5.

Conclusion

New generation high-speed multimode optical fiber networks’ attenuation is dominated by connections where the fibers are offset and macrobended. This leads to DMA over the link, which results in more sensitive attenuation to light source MLCs. For such high-speed links, MLC requirements defined several years ago cannot enable attenuation measurements that are accurate enough. The proposed EFTatt defines a range of MLCs as “slightly underfilled” and provides the following benefits:

• Reduction/removal of poorly guided HOMs and transient-loss effects

• Enough HOMs sensitive/measurable to small fiber connection offset and macrobending

• Good repeatability and reproducibility

• Good correlation of attenuation variation on mode filling (the more filling, the more attenuation) and connection offset

• Consistence between attenuation measurements and transmission equipment characteristics

• A kind of “virtual MPD maintaining’’ launch, reconciling LSPM/OTDR-based MMF link attenuation measurements and making the connection attenuation largely independent of connection position.

Dr. André Girard is a senior member of the technical staff with EXFO and author of several technical works. He is currently responsible for international standards and training and can be reached at [email protected].

Dr. Gang He is principal research scientist with EXFO. He has participated in the development of more than 30 optical testing products and holds 11 patents. He can be reached at [email protected].

Varis C. Hicks is product specialist with EXFO. He has over 15 years of experience in optical fiber testing and can be reached at [email protected].

Reprinted with permission from BICSI News Magazine July/August 2009


We invite you to submit material for publishing in WaveLengths Magazine. In addition to reaching thousands of people through our print edition, you have the potential of reaching millions of readers with our NEW online version that launches this fall.

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Call for Articles

Since the mid-1990’s the Internet has had a profound impact on society. Can you answer the following questions correctly? (Answers on page 36)

1. How long did it take for Radio, TV and the Internet to reach 50 million users? (circle your answers) Radio: 5, 13, 38 years TV: 5, 13, 38 years Internet: 5, 13, 38 years

2. In 2014, what percent of total retail sales in the U.S. will take place over the Internet? (as forecast by Forrester Research) (A) 1% (B) 8% (C) 5%

3. According to some estimates, the number of newlyweds in the U.S. who met their spouse online is... (A) One out of eight (B) One out of three (C) One out of five

makingwaves?4. Which of the following consumes the most Internet bandwidth in North America? (A) Netflick movies (B) Corporate users (C) Online news media (D) Social networking

5. How much was paid for the domain name TOYS.com? (A) $1 (B) $100,000 (C) Over $5 million


When care is given to the management and maintenance of cable entering the rack or enclosure system, the goals of providing customers with a neat, organized and effective system are easily attained.

Today’s electronic systems wiring includes voice, data, video, audio, security and control. The facilities and wiring systems must be planned in an integrated manner; all these different wires make their way into racks of equipment.

Managing these cables creates some interesting challenges, as wire bend radius and fastening must meet industry standards. With video going over twisted pair and digital audio transmitted through CAT-5e / CAT-6, it is apparent that audio/video systems integrators should be familiar with the associated standards. Additionally, more devices are being controlled and monitored via Ethernet nodes.

The TIA/EIA (Telecommunications Industries Association & Electronic Industries Association) building telecommunication wiring standards are used to ensure performance. These standards provide guidelines that reduce long-term building operation costs, lead to better infrastructure and are adaptable to changes. TIA/EIA-568A is for commercial buildings cabling, and specifies a generic cabling system that will support a multi-product, multi-vendor environment. Anybody working with these wiring systems in commercial installations should obtain and adhere to the procedures set forth. TIA/EIA-569 relates to commercial building standards for telecommunication pathways and spaces. TIA/EIA-570 covers residential and light commercial wiring standards. These important documents can be ordered at http://global.ihs.com.

Hot Tip: Installation of cabling systems during building construction or renovation is significantly less expensive and less disruptive than after the building is occupied. Convincing a client that the small cost associated with running extra wires for future expansion will save them money down the road is important. As a matter of code, according to the NEC (National Electrical Code), abandoned cables must be removed or tagged “For Future Use”.

Five Distinct Areas of Cable Management

• Horizontal cabling • Backbone cabling • Telecommunications rooms • Equipment rooms • Equipment racksNote: These cables can be unshielded twisted-pair (UTP), shielded twisted pair (STP or “screened” cable) or coax, to name a few.

Beware of the Bends and Other Things to Avoid

• Cable twists • Staples • Tight cable ties • Small bend radii • More than 25 lbs. of pull force

Cable Management

By Middle Atlantic Products, Inc.

Note: All twisted pair cable is manufactured as “loose-fill”,meaning there has to be a slight air space inside the sheathing. This reduces mutual capacitance, which reduces data packet error rates. Things like tight cable ties will increase data errors. If cable ties are placed at even increments in a high-density installation using coax, it can cause standing waves.

NEXT loss (near-end crosstalk) is also a problem, and is eliminated with proper terminating procedures. The twist in a pair must remain right up to the connector; too often people un-twist the cable for an inch to aid in termination, and that violates the standards. NEXT is tested and measured with a swept-frequency through a “disturbing pair.” Optical fiber cabling standards are increasingly becoming a factor as more and more data are passed through fiber in buildings and racks.

Methods of Bringing Cable into an Enclosure or Rack System

CABLE ENTRY: FROM ABOVE THROUGH TOP OF RACKSelect enclosures that come standard with wide-open tops for large cable bundles. When adding a top option, select one that includes a removable panel for service convenience.

Standard enclosurewith wide-open top – cable is dropped infrom above.

Top options are available that can accept a 6”, 9” or 12” wide cable tray or cable ladder. The opening in the top also allows for the use of a cable drop on the cable ladder to maintain proper bend radius of the cable.

Hot Tip: The easy-to-machine aluminum panel in many rack tops can also be field punched to accept multiple sizes of conduit.

CABLE ENTRY: FROM BELOW THROUGH BOTTOM OF RACKEnclosure bases often feature an open design to accept large cable bundles from below. There is about 3” of space in the bottom of the enclosure before reaching the rackspace area to allow for cable entry up into the enclosure. Enclosures with a unique “upformed base” provide interior room for cable management and coiling unused wire. There are multiple sizes of EKO in the rear of many enclosure bases for piping in conduit.

Riser bases provide enclosures with an additional 2 1/2” clearance off the floor and can be used for cabling below each enclosure or cabling from one to another when ganged. Laser knockouts on the ends of many riser bases simplify cable pass-through when they are ganged together.

Floor Installations (Non-Raised Floor)


1. Install riser bases 2. Knock out cable pass throughs to route cable between riser bases and into racks

3. Install racks on riser bases

Standard enclosure withfan top option shown – service panel is removed to drop cable bundle into enclosure. Ladder Adapter

Removable panel on MW Series top options

RIB series riser base


When the riser bases are used with feet and angles it allows the installer to firmly attach enclosures to the sub-floor in Raised Floor/ Access Floor applications.

Dressing Cable Internally

Segregation of cables inside the rack is important – AC power cables or speaker cables should not be run parallel within close proximity to signal wires (within 2”), unless the wires are twisted. Speaker wires can act as AC cables in high-power situations, so the same care should be taken in keeping signal wires away from close parallel runs. Speaker and AC wires can be run in closer proximity, however. Bend radius for twisted-pair cables is standardized at 1 1/2” (3” diameter). This needs to be taken into consideration during the internal wiring layout of a rack. Coax cables should not be kinked, although they are more tolerant than high-speed data to tighter bends.

Hot Tip: Bundling of conductors is addressed in the 2005 National Electrical Code (NEC) in Article 310.15(B)(2):“Where the number of current carrying conductors in a raceway or cable exceeds three, or where single conductor or multiconductor cables are stacked or bundled longer than 24” without maintaining spacing and are not installed in raceways, the allowable ampacity of each conductor shall be reduced as shown in Table 310.15(B)(2)(a):

Number of Current-Carrying Conductors Adjust Ampacity To4 to 6 80%7 to 9 70%10 to 20 50%21 to 30 45%31 to 40 40%41 & above 35%

The reason for the required derating is to compensate for the accumulated heating effects that may deteriorate the insulation over time. This information has been extracted from the National Electrical Code (NEC), please refer to this document for these requirements in their entirety.

Vertical Lacer Strips

Add as many lacer strips as necessary to route the maximum amount of cable into the enclosure while keeping power and signal cables separate. Vertical lacer strips mount to enclosure rail brackets and allow the installer to lace cable from the top to the bottom of a rack, or vice-versa. They are available in different widths, from 1” to 4 3/4”. Vertical lacer strips provide a number of ways to dress cable. Some strips are punched with holes for mounting cable tie saddles. Tie saddles have been designed to hold bundles wrapped with cable ties or hook-and-loop straps (such as Velcro®) up to 3/4” wide. Some lacer strips include raised lances that accept wire ties or hook-and-loop straps without the need for tie saddle accessories. The most advanced lacer strip will feature holes for mounting vertical power strips, cage nut-mounted accessories and tie saddles. These full-featured lacer strips also include pre-cut tie posts. Assembled cable bundles mount easily to these tie posts; installers slide the cable tie or hook-and-loop strap onto the tie post without the hassle of fishing it through the lacer strip before wrapping the bundle.

Effective vertical cable management can be accomplished in many ways, but different regions have adopted unique styles. Integrators along the East Coast of the United States who work in a high-density environment prefer the “tie and

Lacer strips with tie posts allow assembled cable bundles to be mounted easily.

LACE-44-OWP LACE-44-OP LACE-P LACE-44LP D-RING LACE-44-ISP


slide” technique. This allows smaller cable bundles to be dressed vertically, mounted loosely to the pre-welded horizontal tubes found in some enclosures, and slid in place alongside mounted equipment. By utilizing this space (“no-man’s land”), installers greatly increase the amount of useable area within an enclosure. West Coast integrators mostly prefer using individual, thin vertical lacers with tie saddles. Both examples provide an effective cable management solution and individual enclosures and layouts will dictate which method is best for each installation.

When large (4” diameter) cable bundles are used, a rack with large flanged rackrail should be chosen. The large flanges provide the needed space to dress large bundles without fishing wires behind rail brackets and do not interfere with the rackmount area.

Horizontal Lacer Strips

Most enclosures are furnished with a set of rear rackrail that can be used to mount horizontal lacer bars at any height position. These lacer bars will address two common problems that occur: cable strain relief and running cables from one side of the rack the other.

Different style lacer bars are available for different applications. There are round lacer bars, flat and “L” shaped with cable tie slots. They also come with different size offsets such as 1 1/2”, 2”, 4” & 6”. Determine which lacer bar is appropriate for the application.

Offset Lacer Bars

Use offset lacer bars when:• Positioning lacer bar close to the rear of the unit for cable strain relief• Managing multiple horizontal cable bundles at different depth positions• Cable labels need to be seen (offset away from patch field or unit)

Telescoping Lacer Bars

A telescoping lacer bar system is the most advanced horizontal cable management solution. The limitless number of mounting options and configurations allows for complete customization by the installer. Telescoping lacer bars can be mounted to eliminate cable strain and in combination with vertical lacer strips to meet the cabling needs of even the most high-density installation. Cables can be dressed throughout an enclosure using cable ties or hook-and-loop straps. Additionally, telescoping lacer bars feature mounting holes to accommodate vertical lacer strips and the mounting brackets for vertical power strips.

LACE-44-OWP LACE-44-OP LACE-P LACE-44LP D-RING LACE-44-ISP

Use rail-mount lacer bars when running cables horizontally

Use rail-mount lacer bars as strain relief for connectors

Horizontal Telescoping Lacer Bar (closed)

Front To Rear Telescoping Lacer Bar (extended)

“Tie and Slide”


Horizontal telescoping lacer bars adjust to fit enclosure widths from 19” to 30”. The lacer bar can be mounted vertically or, to be used for reducing cable strain, it can be mounted horizontally as a cable tray. The horizontal telescoping lacer bar can be mounted to rackrail brackets or to the inside flange of the rackrail itself. The hole pattern is such that an installer may also mount the lacer bar directly to opposing vertical lacer strips.Provides side cable management off of rear rail or rail brackets.

Front to rear telescoping lacer bars feature slots for cable ties or hook-and-loop straps. The slot patterns have been created to help manage cable bundles that run vertically or parallel to the floor. These lacer bars are available in several fixed and several adjustable lengths. Depending on the model, the front to rear telescoping lacer bar can mount to the front and rear rackrail of enclosures from 14 1/2” to 50” deep. The hole patterns of front to rear telescoping lacer bars accept mounting of vertical lacer strips and the mounting brackets for vertical power strips. The hole patterns have also been sized to accept the mounting of horizontal telescoping lacer bars for the creation of a complete, versatile cable management solution.Provides front to back cable management, off of front to mid rail or front to rear rail.

The complete telescoping lacer bar system incorporates vertical lacer strips, vertical power strips, horizontal cable management and vertical cable management. Cables are protected from cable strain and dressed according to the proper bend radius. The telescoping lacer bars adjust to fit the depth and width of the host enclosure. The complete, configured system is the most effective and the most comprehensive solution for dressing cables within an enclosure.The system can also be used to mount power and vertical lace.

Horizontal Cabling Tips ‘N Tricks

• Feed from both sides when cable radius is large• Use offset bars to get close to the rear of equipment without adding rackrail• Leave room for cable labels

Note: Neat and tidy is always best

Industry Requirements

Different cables and signals have different requirements. The data market has high densities and is bend-radius sensitive. Video broadcast has a large quantity of coax cables and/or high definition cables that are bend radius sensitive. Security installations now have DVRs (Digital Video Recorders) where camera cables do not run to a switcher. The DVR provides that function which means many cables need to be dressed directly to the equipment. Audio with its sensitive gain structure needs special care for hum and buzz. By following standards and common-sense rules, today’s complicated rack integration can look good and work well thanks to proper cable management.

Cable Management Accessories

Tie saddles are the easiest way to manage cable ties. Completed cable bundles can be hooked directly onto the tie saddles. By eliminating the need to fish cable ties through small holes or around lacer bars, tie saddles reduce installation time. Additionally, a robust tie saddle will accommodate hook and loop straps up to 3/4” wide. Tie saddles can be mounted to rail brackets, rackrail, telescoping lacer bars and some vertical lacer strips.

Hook-and-loop cable fasteners should be used when installing cable that is sensitive to strain or when the wrap is so tight that a cable tie would affect the performance of the cable. This problem is common when installing CAT-5e or CAT-6 cables.


Hook-and-loop straps can be opened and reused, making it easy to modify an installation in the future. If cable will be added or removed from a bundle, hook-and-loop straps should be used instead of cable ties. Cable ties must be cut, thrown away and replaced whenever cable bundles are modified.

Hot Tip: To properly install a hook-and-loop cable strap:

Cable friendly rack screws are 3/8” long with a radiused end point. Because these 10-32 threaded screws do not extend far beyond the rackrail, they minimize the chance of cables chafing or being damaged by sharper, longer hardware. When dressing cables up against the inside of rackrail, these cable friendly screws are the best way to prevent accidental cable damage.

Dressing Cable Internally

In racks where a high density of cables is anticipated, it is often helpful to cut cable and bundle for testing what bend radius is possible. Many times integrators find out too late that the cables simply cannot be effectively run. Prior testing on a bench allows better planning.

1. Pull cable strap through tie point on lacer bar.

2. Loop through opening in cable strap.

3. Pull snug. Do not pull too tight.

4. Place cable bundle parallel to lacer bar.

5. Wrap strap around cable

CABLE MANAGEMENT ©2008 Middle Atlantic Products, Inc.

bundle and lacer bar to secure. HPQ


The new OM4 cabling standard is providing data centers with a cost-effective way to use multimode cable for handling high speed data. What’s next? OM4 desktop applications!

What is OM4? The OM4 standard evolved from the first generation of laser optimized multimode fibers, such as Corning’s InfiniCor® 300 and 600 optical fibers. These fibers enabled transmission speeds of up to 2 GB/s over multimode cable. The past few years have seen the further development of multimode fibers that now allow 10 GB/s transmission. The first 10 GB/s fibers were classified as OM3, which specifies 10 GB/s up to 300 meters. Over time, laser optimized multimode fibers were further refined, and now extend 10 GB/s transmission over a longer distance of up to 550 meters. These latest fibers are included under the new OM4 standard.

Taking Multimode to the MaxTo see why OM4 is such a big deal, let’s take a look at the evolution of multimode fiber. The earliest types of multimode fiber had a defect at the center of the core. That didn’t pose a problem when using LED light sources. However, more powerful laser light sources couldn’t get around the defect unless an expensive mode conditioning cable was used to offset the light launched from the laser. Then in the early 2000’s manufacturers found a way to make multimode fiber without the center defect. This new type of fiber, which became known as Laser Optimized Multimode Fiber, allowed the use of low cost Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) technology to achieve up to 2 GB/s transmission speeds. Prior to VCSEL’s, laser transmission required more expensive equipment, which was considered too costly for most multimode applications.

Because of rapid improvements in multimode fiber technology, Laser Optimized Multimode Fiber quickly evolved from providing 2 GB/s to up to 10 GB/s under the OM3 and OM4 standards. OM4 takes this technology to the max by extending the 10 GB/s speed over distances up to 550 meters.

OM4 is backwards compatible with OM3 fiber. The effective modal bandwidth for OM4 (4700 MHz.km) is more than twice that of OM3 (2000 MHz.km).

OM3 still does a great job, providing speeds of 10 GB/s up to 300 meters (up to 100 GB/s over shorter distances). However, because OM4 is able to provide these speeds over longer distances, it helps reduce stress on optical budgets.

Gigabit Desktop ApplicationsBesides servers, expect OM4 to find its way to the desktop. Over the years, prices have declined for semiconductors, which

has resulted in lower costs for high-speed computers. There are some truly powerful machines sitting our desktops, and software developers are hard at work developing applications to take advantage of all this horsepower.

Determining Desktop NeedsIt’s easy for a manager to think that his company’s desktop applications are running fine at 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps. Why do they need Gigabit speeds?

Any desktop computer that doesn’t have the bandwidth it needs for optimum performance can be a bottleneck for the entire network. When a user’s application requests data from a server, the server sends the data in packet bursts as close to gigabit speeds as possible. However, the server has to wait for confirmation from the user that it has received the information before the next packet of data can be sent. During this waiting period, the server is using additional server resources that are no longer available to other users. This in turn increases their wait time, so productivity drops for everyone on the network.

There are several things to consider when determining bandwidth needs at the desktop. These include:

1. Traffic Pattern - Each application has a “traffic pattern” which describes how it uses bandwidth. For example, the traffic pattern includes how often the application automatically backs up data, retrieves data from in-house servers, or externally from the cloud via the Internet. Much of this data transfer occurs automatically “behind the scenes,” so it may not be readily apparent. Network management programs can provide information in this regard.

2. Compute Profile - Each end user has his or her own unique “compute profile” that includes the specific mix of applications they use to accomplish their specific jobs, and also how they use those programs. For example, does the user need to keep several applications open simultaneously to do their job?

3. Future Needs - How much bandwidth will each user require a couple of years down the road as new applications become available? A good rule of thumb is always plan for more than you think you will need. It’s better to err on the side of excess than to have to overhaul your network.

In summary, OM4 cabling is a great choice for both data center and desktop applications. It provides a cost-effective way to meet today’s bandwidth needs, and also has the capacity to handle bandwidth-intensive applications that are sure to come.

OM4 Fiber – The New StandardBy Charles CarinoExecutive Editor


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The 4th annual Northeast Fiber Optic Conference has an array of different courses, vendors, and events that are sure to fulfill all your telecommunication needs. Use the mobile tag to get a sneak peek of what the event is all about.

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For viewing instructions see pg. 36

Market PerspectivesTelecom Revenue to Top $25.6 Trillion by 2016According to a report from The Insight Research Corporation, telecom service revenues on a worldwide basis are expected to grow at a compounded rate of nine percent over the next five years, bringing the sum spent globally on telecommunications to $25.6 trillion by 2016.

Wireless broadband service revenues are expected to grow at a compounded rate of more than 45% over the forecast period, while wireline broadband services will grow at almost a 14% compounded rate over the same period. The report is entitled, “The 2011 Telecommunications Industry Review: An Anthology of Market Facts and Forecasts.”

Strong Demand for Optical ComponentsStrong global demand for optical components and modules used in datacom and telecom networks is seen as an indication of industry-wide recovery, according to a report released in March by LightCounting.

Sales of optical transceivers and WSS modules increased by 30% in 2010, rebounding from 11% decline posted in 2009.

The report forecasts that sales of optical interface modules

employed in the datacom and telecom networks will increase by 10% and 15% in 2011, respectively, as total sales of these products will exceed $3 billion.

Sales of passive optical components, ROADMs, pump lasers and amplifiers increased well ahead of the total market for components and modules in 2010. The report suggests that a new cycle in infrastructure upgrades may be starting now, since these devices are typically used in early stages of network installations.

Mobile TrendsData released by the comScore MobiLens service, reveals key trends in the U.S. mobile phone industry. Smartphone Market Share – According to the comScore data, 65.8 million people in the U.S. owned smartphones during the three months ending in January 2011, up 8% from the preceding three-month period. Google Android captured the #1 ranking among smartphone platforms for the first time in January with 31.2% market share. RIM ranked second with 30.4% market share, followed by Apple with 24.7%. Microsoft (8.0%) and Palm (3.2%) rounded out the top five.

Mobile Content Usage - In January, 68.1% of U.S. mobile subscribers used text messaging on their mobile device, while browsers were used

by 37.0% of subscribers (up 0.8%). Subscribers who used downloaded applications comprised 35.3% of the mobile audience, representing an increase of 1.6%. Accessing of social networking sites or blogs increased 1.1%, representing 25.3% of mobile subscribers. Playing games represented 23.7% of the mobile audience, while listening to music represented 16.5 % (up 1.1%).

Internet TrendsSandvine released their Global Internet Phenomena Report: Spring 2011, which provides many insights into Internet trends. One key finding is that Netflix represents 29.7% of North American Peak Downstream Traffic. Real-Time Entertainment applications consume 49.2% of peak aggregate traffic, up from 29.5% in 2009 – a 60% increase. In Europe, Real-Time Entertainment continues a steady climb, rising to 33.2% of peak aggregate traffic, up from 31.9% last fall. The report states that overall, individual subscribers in Europe consume twice the amount of data as North Americans.


Telecom humor inspired by true events.

Do you know of an unusual incident that happened on the job? Send your story to: [email protected]. If we use it, you’ll receive a WaveLengths coffee mug!

com

ic rel

ief


‘Alien crosstalk’ is signal interference that can result when electronic components are in close proximity. See cable management solutions on page 20.

What were they

thinking? In 2006, a merger

was planned between a

network design firm and a toy

company. Few people were

surprised when the deal fell

through. Successful mergers

are discussed on page 7.

Can you think of funny company names that could result from mergers? Here are a few to get you started…

3M and Goodyear: mmmGood

Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers: Fairwell Honeychild

Polygram Records, Warner Brothers, and Keebler: Poly-Warner-Cracker

The Name Game

THE LIGHT CONNECTION, INC. , 132 BASE ROAD, ORISKANY, NY 13424 PH: 315.736.7384 FX: 315.736.1927 TOLL FREE: 1.888.571.7111

[email protected] www.thelightconnection.com


THE LIGHT CONNECTION, INC. , 132 BASE ROAD, ORISKANY, NY 13424 PH: 315.736.7384 FX: 315.736.1927 TOLL FREE: 1.888.571.7111

[email protected] www.thelightconnection.com

Tech


TipsThere are some similarities between optical fiber and copper wire. For example, both fiber and twisted pair copper are sensitive to excessive bends and must be installed with that fact in mind.

Here are some tips for properly installing twisted pair cables:

When unrolling cable, don’t allow the cable to knot or kink while you are pulling it from the spool or box. Doing so can deform the pair-twist, resulting in poor performance of the cable. A pulling cable accessory can be useful and help prevent damage to the cable.

When pulling cable, limit pull-force to under 25 pounds. It’s less a matter of breaking the cable than it is deforming the cable’s insulation or other components that can affect transmission properties.

When securing cable, use j-hooks or other devices designed to support cables. Secure cable at close intervals to prevent sagging, and don’t overstress cables by overloading. When stapling is required, staple by hand or use staplers that have depth stops to prevent cable from being crimped or crushed.

Likewise, don’t over cinch cable ties. Install tie wraps loosely on large cable bundles, using appropriate wraps that provide adequate support such as Velcro® tie wraps.

When using wire channels, strive for wide, sweeping bends and use cable clamps on individual runs. Your goal is to avoid right angles or other sharp bends in your cable.

During termination, it is important to maintain the wires in their proper twisted-pair orientation. Maintain the twist in the wires to within 1/2 inch of the termination point. Also don’t remove any more of the cable jacket than is necessary. Keep the jacket intact as close to the termination point as possible.

When terminating onto 110 or 66 Blocks don’t allow pairs to untwist more than the maximum specified by the cable’s Category rating:

Above Category 5: <1/2” max untwist Category 5:1/2” max. untwist Category 4:1” max. untwist Category 3:3” max. untwist

If any other suggestions for events please email us at [email protected]

Calendar2011


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FIS Fiber Optic TrainingBrightside

FIS Fiber Optic TrainingProvidence,RI

NTI/NJATC (continued)Ann Arbor,MI


September Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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FIS Fiber Optic TrainingSalk Lake City, UT

FIS Fiber Optic TrainingDenver, CO

Data Center WorldOrlando, FL

OSPCincinnati, OH

BICSI FallLas Vegas, NV

FIS Fiber Optic Training Brightside

ECOCGeneva

FTTHOrlando, FL

NFOCVerona, NY

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SBE 22Verona, NY

SBE 22 (Continued) HD WorldNew York, NY

GitexDubai


FIS Fiber Optic TrainingSan Diego, CA

FIS Fiber Optic TrainingLas Vegas, NV

NECA

NECASan Diego, CA

TELCO TVN


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NTI/NJATCFIS Fiber Optic TrainingBrightside

FIS Fiber Optic TrainingEdmonton, AB Canada

FIS Fiber Optic TrainingDubai, UAE

Fiber Optic TrainingDubai, UAE


Need Real-Time Results?Quickly obtain free information about the products you see featured in WaveLengths Magazine. Go online:www.wavelengthsmagazine.comOnce online, place a check mark next to the page number and company whose product was featured in the magazine.

Company pg

Fiber Instrument Sales Inside front cover

Northeast Fiber Optic Conference

Molding Solutions Inc.

FIS Blue

Rentals, Fiber Instrument Sales Back Cover

EXFO

The Light Connection (TLC)

Now you can access text AND video using the procedures outlined on this page. For example, scanning the Mobile Tag at right will present one of our newest videos on your tag-enabled cell phone.*

Picture This - You are enjoying WaveLengths Magazine over coffee at your local diner. In one of the articles you see a Mobile Tag symbol, similar to the one at right. Using the camera on your cell phone, you snap a picture of the Mobile Tag. Like magic, the information you are seeking appears on your cell phone screen.

How it Works - The Mobile Tag shown (above) has a web address encoded within it. If your cell phone is properly equipped, it can read the code and take you to the website that has additional information, in this case a video. Just snap the Mobile Tag with your camera phone - there’s nothing to key in!

Setting Up Your Phone 1. Determine if your cell phone can accept Mobile Tag application software. For a list of compatible phones, go to the Microsoft site:

www.microsoft.com/tag/content/faq/allDevices.aspx

2. Download the free Microsoft Mobile Tag reader at:www.microsoft.com/tag/content/download

*Because video requires more bandwidth than text, we recommend viewing videos when your phone has access to WiFi Internet.

Northeast Fiber Optic Conference Video

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5

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?makingwaves

TryPaper View

Videos

1. Radio, 38 years; TV, 13 years; Internet, 5 years

2. (B)

3. (A)


US Conec 30

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Fiber Instrument Sales 3

Fiber Instrument Sales 11

Fiber Instrument Sales Inside front cover

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Information is power! The next issue of WaveLengths will arm you with the information you need to stay current in today’s changing marketplace. In addition to informative articles, this issue will include an extensive directory that shows you where to get other useful information specific to your industry:

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This special issue is a “keeper,” one that you’ll want to refer to continually as you pursue your career and business goals.

Weapons of Mass InstructIon

Presorted STDU.S. Postage

PAIDFiber Instrument

Sales Inc

It Makes Cents to Rent

Our Rent It program has been expanded to include more products, better pricing, and new ways to save.

Contact Our Rental Departmentfor More Information: 1-800-5000-FIS (347)Or Visit: www.fiberinstrumentsales.com/rentals

• Fusion Splicers starting at $395 for 1 week• OTDR’s starting at $600 for 1 week• Power Meter & Light Sources starting at $120 for 1 week

Fiber Optic Equipment Rentals

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