In a factory environment, systems can undergo an entire week of “burn-in” to ensure successful functioning, rather than hours or days in a traditional field-built network. In the factory, bit error rate (BER), throughput, latency, and jitter testing can be completed efficiently with test systems geared towards testing multiple circuits simultaneously. In addition, comprehensive system failover testing can be conducted at all hardware levels. As a final factory performance test, LightRiver utilizes the netFLEX optical domain controller platform to enhance network delivery using our intelligent Factory Built Network (iFBN) option to further ensure the network elements are tuned for optimized performance and a Factory Network Build Certification Report is issued, with customer enablement of paramount importance. This data-driven delivery approach provides a benchmark for Day 1 network health and performance, allowing advanced, network-custom analytics to empower all stakeholders under our DBET business model.

Site Survey, Fiber Testing, and Engineering  

While the network is being Factory Built, LightRiver can perform site surveys, fiber testing, and final engineering. In over 50 percent of surveyed sites, remediation is required for site readiness problems or fiber plant issues. These remediations become the critical-path items in a network build. While other entities break apart and outsource site surveys and fiber plant testing, LightRiver performs both during the same site visit with in-house experts. LightRiver has created industry best practices for these functions, as site and fiber path readiness create the foundation upon which a transport network is built. One of these best practices is for the LightRiver Project Manager to actively manage remediation efforts to resolution and then for the LightRiver Field Team to validate the remediations are to carrier-grade standards at the time of network deployment.

The output of the site surveys and fiber testing is an Engineering Design Package (EDP) that fully documents all elements of the onsite network build both graphically and in writing. This becomes the as-built documentation once corrections from the field install and digital images are provided to verify all details of an install.

Onsite Installation and Final Test

With the network completely Factory Built and site remediations completed, the network is rapidly installed and field-tested against the factory benchmarks provided via netFLEX iFBN. To foster the highest levels of collaborative transparency, a comprehensive and regulated set of site photos are loaded daily onto a secure customer portal, such that all approved stakeholders have real-time visual feedback on project progress. LightRiver spends 60 percent less time on customer sites with a Factory Built Network and scheduling is far more predictable, as virtually all network troubleshooting is accomplished prior to the network leaving the factory. This once again frees up customer resources, including escorts, engineers, and project managers. And if customers are seeking ongoing proactive and automated network assurance, netFLEX can be readily integrated back into the deployed network to enable a SaaS network health-check, further freeing up scarce optical engineering resources.

Conclusion

With faster deployment and greater reliability, the time-saving Factory Built Network procedure creates agility for network operators. As a result, network operators can enjoy the benefits of their new systems sooner while reaping the advantages of lower costs and higher performance.