Spirent Extends Physical Layer Testing Coverage to Optical Networks With the Industry's First DWDM Optical Network Simulator

Business Wire, June 3, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SUPERCOMM 2002

Booth #12017

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 2002

New optical simulator adds remote control, variable fiber

characteristics and industry standard fiber models improving the

ability for carriers and network equipment manufacturers to evaluate

equipment quickly and cost effectively

Spirent Communications(TM), a wholly owned business group of Spirent plc (NYSE:SPM) (LSE:SPT), today announced that it has extended OSI Layer 1 capabilities in the optical network environment with the industry's first DWDM optical network physical layer simulator.

Spirent's AE 7100 is one of several new Spirent solutions being introduced and demonstrated at Booth #12017 during SUPERCOMM in Atlanta, June 4-6.

"With traditional low data rate single channel optical testing, the physical layer component was handled by spools of a particular fiber. Now, with multiple variations of fiber type, length, impairments, multiple wavelengths and high channel data rates, this test method is slow and costly," said Shekar Gopalan, vice president of Research & Consulting, Industrial Business Unit at Frost & Sullivan. "Spirent has made significant strides to speed the testing process of optical networking equipment and systems with the first test tool to emulate the variable physical characteristics of different real world single mode fibers with the convenience of remote control for integrated testing." Frost & Sullivan is a global leader in strategic market consulting and training.

The Spirent AE 7100 is designed as a laboratory high-performance computer-controlled fiber optic physical layer simulator for use in long haul, Enterprise and Metro optical network access testing applications. The AE 7100 is used in the design, analysis, conformance and performance testing of DWDM optical components, systems and specialized optical test equipment, especially where wavelength-specific dispersion fiber delays require optical access device tuning and testing. When combined with Spirent's AX4000/OC-192 traffic generator/analysis system, end-users can address optical system performance issues such as 10Gb/sec multiple channel network system testing, utilizing optical wavelength switching systems and optical add/drop switches. The capability of the AE 7100 to simulate and allow remote control of different single mode fiber types, dispersion and attenuation parameters in a compact lab test unit eliminates the need for multiple rolls of fiber of different types in the lab.

"With optical network development focusing on maximizing data throughput on existing single mode fiber, physical fiber parameters become critical to the design and test of DWDM optical systems," said Steve Courtney, vice president of marketing, Spirent Communications. "The AE 7100 provides optical designers with a valuable new testing tool to reduce the time to market for these next generation high bandwidth, high channel count DWDM systems."

The AE 7100 can create flexible configurations where precise control of distance, attenuation and dispersion are required either independently, or combined as per a particular fiber specification. Different single mode fiber types may be selected, which is especially important for automated network system testing such as link aggregation testing where it is often impractical to switch in the lab between different lengths, wavelengths, fault conditions and types of fiber. Variability between fibers, due to changes in ambient conditions, connectors, fiber kinks, splices and manufacturing tolerances cause different results as compared to a precise laboratory test instrument like the AE 7100.

Applications include the following:

-- Evaluating in the lab the impact of optical channel physical impairments
(e.g. splices), attenuation, and dispersion effects on optical networks
utilizing OC-48 and OC-192 transmission rates, across different combinations of
wavelengths, fibers and network configurations.

-- Allows Bit Error Rate testing of an optical system when the AE 7100 is
combined with a Spirent AX/4000 or SmartBits system.

-- In addition, the compact AE 7100 unit can be used outside the development
lab for use in manufacturing test and quality control of optical systems,
optical test equipment calibration and performance evaluations, along with
optical system equipment training and product demonstrations.

About Spirent Communications

Spirent Communications is a worldwide provider of integrated performance analysis and service assurance systems for next-generation network technologies. Spirent's solutions accelerate the profitable development and deployment of network equipment and services by emulating real-world conditions in the lab and assuring end-to-end performance of large-scale networks. http://www.spirentcom.com

Spirent Communications is a wholly owned business group of Spirent plc, an international network technology company. Spirent plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: SPT). The company is also listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker: SPM; CUSIP number: 84856M209). www.spirent.com