Enhancing Fiber Testing with GIS-Based Fault Mapping

High bandwidth and reliable networks are critical for delivering advanced digital services. As demand grows, accurate fiber measurement and testing become essential for ensuring uninterrupted service quality.

The shift to remote work post- COVID-19, has further intensified the need for stable, hig performance fiber networks. This whitepaper explores the need for fiber measurement and testing, current challenges, and Cyient’s vendor-agnostic solution.

Cyient’s solution leverages Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) data, integrating it with inventory and GIS systems to automate fault detection, service impact analysis, and repair workflows. This enables fiber network providers to significantly reduce Mean Time to Repair (MTTR), maintain service-level agreements (SLAs), and enhance customer experience.

Introduction

Optical fiber plays a crucial role in modern communication networks, spanning backhaul infrastructure for mobile operators, last mile broadband connections, and high-speed data centres. The increasing adoption of low-latency 5G and Fiber-to-the-X (FTTX) has further emphasized the importance of fiber networks.

Fiber optic links run across cities, remote landscapes, and even under the oceans. However, link breakages, incorrect splicing, or poor junctions can cause significant communication disruptions. Network operators require a centralized fiber analysis solution to quickly diagnose and resolve fiber faults, ensuring minimal downtime.

Fiber network providers also rely on fiber validation to verify subcontractor work during network expansion. However, current tools lack accuracy and automation in validating fiber installations. A robust fiber measurement and testing solution is essential to maintaining network integrity and ensuring compliance with high-quality standards.

Need for Fiber Measurement and Testing Solution

Fiber testing is the process of assessing optical fiber performance through key measurements such as insertion loss, optical return loss, and fault detection.

It is critical in detecting malfunctions caused by:

Fiber faults can occur unexpectedly, disrupting critical infrastructure. When a Network Operations Center (NOC) operator receives an unplanned fiber cut notification, rapid fault location and resolution become paramount. Identifying the cut location manually is inefficient, making automated solutions necessary.

Additionally, regular fiber testing ensures long-term network health, as measurements must be compared against baseline data over time. Engineers and technicians rely on Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) instruments to analyze fiber performance, detect faults, and maintain connectivity.

Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) – A Key Tool for Fiber Testing

OTDR is a critical instrument for measuring and testing fiber optic networks, providing insights into fiber length, signal loss, and fault locations.. Below are key parameters measured by OTDR:

Parameter	Description
Fiber Length	Measures the total length of the optical fiber.
Event Location	Identifies splices, connectors, and faults.
Optical Loss	Determines signal loss in dB/km.
Reflectance	Measures reflections at connectors, splices, and fiber ends.
Attenuation Coefficient	Calculates the rate of signal loss per unit distance (dB/km).
Splice/Connector Loss	Quantifies loss at specific joints.
Fiber Break Detection	Pinpoints broken fiber sections.
Backscatter Level	Displays scattered light levels for analysis.
Ghosting Identification	Detects false reflections from highly reflective connectors.
Bend Loss	Identifies excessive bending causing high signal loss.

Challenges with Traditional OTDR Analysis:

To overcome these challenges, an automated solution is needed for real-time OTDR data processing.

Existing Solutions and Their Limitations

Several commercial fiber measurement and validation solutions exist, but they often come with limitations. Below are two leading solutions:

Solution	Features	Limitations
FastReporter by EXFO	Batch processing of multiple OTDR traces. Bidirectional fiber link analysis. Customizable reporting.	Designed primarily for EXFO’s OTDR devices. Limited automation for fault detection.
LinkWare PC by Fluke Networks	Project-based test result organization. Batch processing for efficiency. Overlapping trace comparisons.	Primarily supports Fluke Networks' testing devices. Does not integrate with GIS or service impact analysis tools.

Industry Expectations for an Ideal Solution

Fiber Network providers require an advanced fiber measurement and testing solution that addresses current challenges while ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and ease of use. An ideal solution should include the following capabilities:

1. Vendor Agnostic OTDR Support

File Format Compatibility: The software must support industry- standard OTDR trace file formats, such as .sor, ensuring compatibility across different devices.
Comprehensive Analysis Tools: Key features should include batch processing, bidirectional analysis, and customizable reporting to meet diverse fiber testing needs.
User-Friendly Interface: An intuitive interface can enhance operational efficiency and reduce the learning curve for new users.

2. Automated Network Validation

Ensuring fiber installations meet quality standards.

3. Birth Certificate Generation

After the network validation, the fiber operator stores the final fiber measurement as a “Birth Certificate” for future reference. This certificate serves as proof that the fiber met performance standards at the time of deployment, helping network providers demonstrate compliance and maintain trust in their infrastructure quality. Additionally, it acts as a baseline for future comparisons, facilitating efficient troubleshooting, proactive maintenance, and a comprehensive understanding of the network performance over time.

4. Role-Based Access Control

Restricting access based on user roles.

5. AI-Enabled Fault Prediction

Comparing OTDR traces overtime for proactive maintenance.

6. GIS and Inventory System Integration

Providing location-based fault insights.

7. Historical Data Management and Smart Dashboard

Enabling trend analysis and network performance tracking.

Cyient’s Fiber Measurement and Testing Solution

Cyient proposes CyFAS as a comprehensive OTDR analysis platform, integrating with various systems to streamline fiber testing and fault resolution as mentioned in Figure 1.

Figure 1: CyFAS Integration with External Systems

Figure 2: CyFAS Solution Architecture

The solution proposed in the above diagram is based on the current market requirements as understood from various Fiber providers.

The architecture comprises of

A single-pane dashboard displaying network faults and KPIs.
GIS-based visualization for real-time fault location mapping..
Microservices module consisting of CMBD, ITSM & FSM workflows and Low Code/ No Code for necessary workflow creation and modification.
Reports generating issues related to incorrect splicing, fiber bend and others.

Salient features of CyFAS

Design Data Processing: Extracts and processes key design parameters such as section identifier, splice lengths, etc.
Automated OTDR Data Analysis: Supports batch processing of multiple OTDR trace files (.SOR) at regular intervals.
Centralized Data Management: Stores and manages test results in a secure, centralized database.
Comprehensive Reporting: Generates reports on splice loss, birth certificate details, incorrect fiber lengths and alarm- based threshold breaches, all is accessible via the CyFAS dashboard.

Conclusion

Ensuring reliable fiber networks requires a sophisticated measurement and testing approach. Cyient’s CyFAS solution automates OTDR analysis, integrates with GIS and inventory systems, and proactively predicts faults, enhancing network resilience.

By adopting CyFAS, fiber network providers can:

Reduce Mean Time to Repair (MTTR)
Improve SLA compliance
Enhance customer experience
Minimize service disruptions

Cyient delivers comprehensive end-to-end fiber lifecycle services, encompassing planning, design, quality assessment, OSS/BSS transformation, M&A support, and network operations. Additionally, Cyient has developed innovative solutions like CyPlanet to accelerate fiber planning and design, enhancing efficiency and scalability.

With Cyient’s expertise in fiber network automation, providers can future-proof their infrastructure for the demands of next-generation connectivity.

Aftermarket Support and Customer Service

AI agents enhance customer support through predictive maintenance, personalized experiences, and automated customer service, across the engineering lifecycle, especially in critical phases like Aftermarket and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing.

Personalized Experiences

AI ensures products adapt to changing user needs, extending their relevance and utility.

Examples: Smart thermostats use AI to optimize energy consumption based on user preferences.

Emerging Phases in Engineering with AI Agents

Supply Chain Optimization

AI optimizes procurement, inventory, and logistics, for cost-effective operations.

Example: Aerospace manufacturers can use AI agents to track part availability and prevent production delays.

Sustainability and Green Engineering

AI helps engineers model carbon footprints, choose sustainable materials, and design eco- friendly products.

Example: AI agents can optimize vehicle design for fuel efficiency and emissions reduction, considering factors like aerodynamics, weight reduction, and engine performance.

These tools are just the tip of the iceberg, showcasing the diversity of AI agents available across vendors and platforms. Each solution offers unique benefits, empowering organizations to tailor AI adoption to their specific needs.

Conclusion

The engineering lifecycle is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the integration of AI agents. These intelligent tools redefine how teams approach challenges, delivering efficiency, accuracy, and innovation at every phase. From refining requirements and ensuring compliance to streamlining customer support, AI agents empower engineering teams to focus on creativity, problem-solving, and value creation while managing complexity with precision and agility.

Across the lifecycle’s twelve phases, AI agents offer unparalleled advantages. They enhance requirements gathering by analyzing extensive data and regulatory frameworks, optimize designs through generative capabilities, and simulate real-world scenarios with physics-based AI. During development, these agents accelerate coding with autocompletion, synthesize code from high-level designs, and enable user-centric interface creation. Testing and debugging are streamlined with automated test generation and intelligent fixes, while security agents safeguard systems through continuous threat detection and code auditing.

Beyond development, AI tools shine in production and aftermarket phases. Intelligent DevOps and SRE solutions ensure real-time monitoring and proactive interventions, minimizing downtime. Anomaly detection and data-driven insights bolster traceability and quality assurance. In the aftermarket, AI enhances performance, personalizes user experiences, and automates customer support for swift resolutions.

Emerging applications in sustainability and supply chain optimization underscore AI's potential to tackle pressing global challenges. AI agents are at the forefront of green engineering, designing eco-friendly products and processes while minimizing environmental impacts.

With diverse solutions across vendors and platforms, organizations can tailor AI adoption to their unique needs. The integration of AI agents represents more than a technological upgrade – it’s a paradigm shift, paving the way for a smarter, faster, and more innovative future in engineering.

About the Author

Prakash Narayanan is Solutions Head for Intelligent automation at Cyient. He has over 24 years of experience in the field of IT and has delivered 1000+ bots across sectors such as banking, pharmaceuticals, and telecom, and has extensive experience in intelligent process automation tools and platforms. He was among the Top 16 Global Automation Rockstars picked by Dynamic CIO magazine in 2022, recipient of the Standout Thought Leader award in 2023 from 3AI and winner of the Thought Leader of the year in ITES award from GBLF awards 2024).

Intelligent Engineering

Fiber Measurement and Testing solution - Overlaying Fiber Fault on GIS layer Ensuring Fiber Service Quality: Effective Fiber Measurement and Testing Solution

Abstract

Introduction

Need for Fiber Measurement and Testing Solution

Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) – A Key Tool for Fiber Testing

Existing Solutions and Their Limitations