- Anritsu has developed a testing solution, based on the MT9100A Series multichannel OTDR, to evaluate the transmission quality of multicore fibers used in high-capacity optical communication networks.
- This testing solution measures both transmission and return losses in multicore fibers, as well as the signal interference distribution between cores along the fiber.
OTDR: Optical Time Domain Reflectometer
The growth of AI and cloud services is driving a continuous increase in transmission capacity for optical communications connecting submarine cables and data centers. However, the transmission capacity of conventional optical fibers is reaching its limits. In response, “multicore fibers,” which integrate multiple cores (optical transmission channels) into a single fiber, are gaining traction.
Anritsu collaborated with Tohoku University in Japan to develop measurement methods using the multichannel OTDR method. For the deployment of multicore optical fibers, quality assessment, including core interference and high-speed inspection technology, is required. To meet these requirements, Anritsu offers a multichannel OTDR measurement instrument capable of evaluating multicore optical fibers.
Key Features of the MT9100A Tester
The MT9100A series optical fiber tester features a mechanism that synchronizes the operation of four OTDR channels. Primarily designed for R&D and manufacturing applications of multicore optical fibers, it enables, according to its Japanese manufacturer:
- Measurement of Intercore Interference Distribution: The MT9100A tester can measure and display core interference as a spatial distribution along the optical fiber. By visualizing areas where interference increases locally and the amount of interference in a given section, it helps optimize fiber installation conditions.
- Improved handling with one-end measurement: The tester allows measurement at one end of the multicore fiber. This eliminates the need to position operators at both ends during field testing where the fiber ends are far apart, thus reducing the time and labor required during installation and operation.
- Productivity gains: The MT9100A tester allows simultaneous measurement of transmission loss, return loss, and intercore interference—essential parameters for evaluating the quality of multicore fibers—on up to four cores without reconnection. This enables faster inspection than the conventional interference assessment method.
