Fiber Optic Engineering
Excellence in Communications Engineering
Mid-State has successfully engineered thousands of miles of fiber optic routes throughout the United States and its territories. We have witnessed the telecommunications industry evolve from using small fiber count cables exclusively on long-haul routes to today’s ubiquitous end-to-end fiber networks utilizing ever larger fiber counts. The capabilities of lasers and electronics continue to increase while remaining cost competitive. New manufacturing methods have allowed production of extremely high quality optical fibers. The decision facing telecommunication providers is no longer if they should deploy fiber in their wireline networks, but when. Mid-State’s experienced professionals can help you with all phases of your project, from initial planning to final inspection.
Long Haul and Backbone Networks
Having a “big pipe” in your network for long haul or backbone is essential to accommodate existing bandwith requirements, while leaving plenty of room for future needs. In addition to the physical routes of the fiber facilities, Mid-State’s engineers can help you sort through the myriad of options for transport electronics, DWDM and CWDM, integration with switching and legacy systems, and fiber test reviews.
Access Networks
Fiber optic isn’t just for long-haul anymore. As demand for bandwidth rises and existing copper plant depreciates and deteriorates, fiber optics in the access network are the logical next step. Depending on existing circumstances, there are various deployment topologies to consider, and any given network may utilize one or more of these:
- Passive Optical Network, or PON, is a widely deployed solution where bandwidth is distributed to end users by splitting the optical signal into a number of separate paths. In this manner, typically 32 but as many as 64 unique subscriber locations can be served from a single optical port on the source electronics. This solution works well in areas with high subscriber density, and where feeder fiber counts are low.
- Active, also referred to as Active Ethernet, serves each subscriber location with a dedicated fiber and optical port on the source electronics. Active can span greater distances than PON, but requires a greater quantity of ports on the source electronics, and can require more fiber.
- Fiber to the Node (FTTN) is a deployment option where fiber optics are deployed in the access network and terminate at “nodes” where the optical signal is converted back to electrical and the bandwidth is delivered to the customer via existing twisted pair copper. This deployment can be cost effective in areas where cable replacement, particularly subscriber drop cables, is cost prohibitive.
There are many options to consider for Optical Network Terminals (ONTs), which are the electronics at the subscriber location for PON and Active deployments. This includes the type and quantity of ports, and also interior or exterior mounting of electronics and battery backup systems.
Please give us a call and discuss how we can help you with your network needs.