EXFO Intros Next-Generation Portable Test Platform

EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering Inc., a provider of test and service assurance solutions for network service providers and equipment manufacturers, has reportedly unveiled the new four-slot version of its FTB-500 portable test platform useful for installation, maintenance and troubleshooting applications on today's most advanced telecommunication networks.

 

 

The new FTB-500 four-slot platform is designed for network experts with portfolio of versatile, powerful test modules covering wide array of applications, from which three critical applications emerge: ROADM (News - Alert) and packet transport network (PTN) turn-up, CWDM turn-up and multiservice testing.

 

FTB-500 runs an optical spectrum analyzer (FTB-5240S-P-InB) and a SONET/SDH, OTN, Ethernet and Fibre Channel analyzer (FTB-8130NGE Power Blazer), a combination that delivers multiple software-based test capabilities, including in-band OSNR measurement for qualifying newly commissioned OTN links, standard and over-clocked OTN functionalities for commissioning the transport layer, and SONET/SDH, Ethernet and Fibre Channel functionalities for qualifying all ROADM-supported interfaces, says the company.

 

It’s integrated optical and transport testing feature supports OC-768, STM-256, OTU3 as well as true in-band OSNR for ROADMs, 40G transmission and UDWDM signals. It also offers battery operation, remote management and integrated optical tools.

 

Etienne Gagnon (News - Alert), EXFO's vice president of Product Management and Marketing, said that they are introducing a smaller, field-optimized version of the FTB-500, which delivers the high processing power and drive, in a unit whose compactness is unrivaled in the industry.

 

He added that, "The four-slot FTB-500 provides technicians with an extremely powerful, yet highly portable solution to their everyday ROADM/PTN/CWDM turn-up and multiservice test challenges."

 

The all-new FTB-500 houses any of EXFO’s (News - Alert) FTB plug-and-play modules, enabling the user to reconfigure their test solution as their test needs evolve. In addition, its open architecture allows for frequent software and hardware upgrades, enabling the platform to evolve with operators' testing needs and help them make the most of their investment.

 

EXFO was recently in news for releasing new software features on the InterWatch R14 platform, an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem Next-Generation test platform.