Fiber 101 series — the new dimension of coherent optics

We kicked off this webinar series with Corning, looking at the basics of fiber and ways to improve network capacity with DWDM technologies. In this third installment, EXFO partners with CableLabs to explore a new dimension of spectral efficiency: coherent optics. 

The advent of IoT, pandemic conditions, remote conference applications and cloud gaming are driving greater reliance on high-fidelity communication, and more importantly driving greater demand for bandwidth. 

Cable operators are still developing their networks, continuing to distribute plants further out as they cope with bandwidth pressure. They anticipate increasing amounts of data aggregation and edge applications that require robust and efficient spectral usage with higher signal-to-noise ratios (OSNR). These developments can only be supported with a new era of pluggable coherent optical technology that provides cleaner, more robust signals for longer distances. 

Key takeaways: 

• Fundamentals of coherent optics communication 
• Which problems coherent optics help solve 
• How new pluggable coherent optics will coexist in the network alongside common client interface pluggables 
• How validation and testing of end-to-end client traffic will be managed 
• The need for proper test tools to ensure efficient deployment of pluggables in networks