Agilent Technologies creates 40 Gbit/s BER test platform for next-generation transmission line testing
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, ECOC 2001, Oct. 1, 2001– Agilent Technologies Inc. has added 10.8 Gbit/s generator and analyzer modules to its Parallel Bit Error Ratio Testing (ParBERT) 81250 43G portfolio. With these new modules, the firm's 43.2 Gbit/s platform is able to stimulate and analyze both the parallel and serial sides of 16:1 and 4:1 OC-768 (STM-256) and OC-192 (STM-64) multiplexers and demultiplexers (MUX/deMUX).
The complete Agilent ParBERT 81250 portfolio solution offers a variety of benefits including:
•an electrical/optical solution, the Agilent E2150A, that allows testing of 43-Gbit/s transceivers and transponders;
•tributary measurement capabilities that test 4:1/1:4 OC-768/STM-256 MUX/deMUX with a combination of ParBERT 43.2 Gb/s and 10.8-Gbit/s modules at the same time; and test 16:1/1:16 OC-768/STM-256 MUX/deMUX with ParBERT.
In addition, the Agilent ParBERT 81250 has the ability to support SFI-5 with a 17th tributary channel and up to 64 channels at 2.7 Gbit/s. The SFI-5 (Sonet Framer Interface 5) standard is used with 40 Gbit/s devices running 16 inputs at approximately 2.5 Gbit/s for automatic phase alignment of input signals. It requires 16 data channel inputs and a 17th channel, which acts as a conduit for carrying information for alignment.
In response to customers who are dealing with shrinking budgets, Agilent also has instituted a program specifically geared for the ParBERT 81250 43G. The program, which minimizes cost of ownership over time, allows customers to upgrade in three steps:
1. Agilent field engineers work with customers to configure their new systems
2. customers decide on new contract term lengths (a combination of the original and refresh terms that must total 36 months overall)
3. Agilent modifies the customer's lease to reflect the rollover of the new equipment and payment.
Both the 10.8 Gb/s generator and 10.8 Gb/s analyzer modules are expected to ship in January 2002.