Attenuation Measurement Improvement

Phillip Coppin *, Chief Quality Manager

1. Abstract
This technical report describes a recent change to the OTDR measurement methods employed
by Sterlite Optical Fibers. It details changes to the measurement definition of optical fiber
attenuation, describes the attenuation uniformity measurement and its use, and highlights the
advantages of the improved measurement integrity to the customer.
Continuous improvement to optical fiber manufacturing techniques has steadily reduced fiber
attenuation to record low levels. This, together with the network designers desire to exploit the
full dynamic range potential of installed system links, has driven the requirement for incremental
improvement to attenuation measurement capability. In response, Sterlite Optical Fibers has
upgraded its attenuation measurement capability to industry leading specification.

2. OTDR Attenuation Measurement

Fiber attenuation is of particular importance to the customer, since it is this attribute, which
determines the maximum link length over which the fiber can be used before the signal requires
optical/electrical regeneration.
Fiber attenuation is typically measured using an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR). It
has long been recognized that measuring OTDR attenuation from one direction only can either
under or over estimate the true fiber attenuation. This is because changes in the mode field
diameter along the fiber length can make the OTDR slope look smaller (less attenuation) or
larger (increased attenuation) depending on the measurement direction. To eliminate this error
international measurement standards [1] specify bi-directional average attenuation measurement
as the most accurate and reliable measure of fiber attenuation.
In the bi-directional measurement, attenuation is measured from both ends of the fiber under
test, and the average of these two measurements is reported as the true fiber attenuation per:
Attenuation Overall = Attenuation Top + Attenuation Bottom
2
Sterlite Optical Fibers measure attenuation using state of the art OTDR instruments with
sophisticated on-line trace analysis software. This software has recently been upgraded to report
bi-directional average attenuation, and these results are now available to customer.
It should be noted that in the international cabling community it is standard practice for incoming
quality assurance of fiber attenuation, or final quality assurance of cable attenuation, to be
measured in one direction only. Only in case of non-conformance with specification is a second
measurement from the other end taken, and the bi-directional average is taken as the final
deciding measure.

* PHILLIP COPPIN is Chief Quality Manager at Sterlite Optical Technologies, Aurangabad, India. He holds a
BSc.(Hons) degree from Loughborough University of Technology, UK. Mr. Coppin is an optical/optical technical
expert with 13 years experience gained working for Corning Inc. and British Telecom Research Laboratories.

December 2002 Page 1 of 2

3. OTDR Attenuation Uniformity Measurement
Fiber attenuation uniformity is of particular importance to the customer, since fiber as supplied
by the manufacturer is routinely cut into shorter lengths in cable manufacture. Attenuation
uniformity is a measure of the difference in attenuation between any 2km section and the whole
fiber length. Therefore with knowledge of overall fiber attenuation, and attenuation uniformity, a
cable manufacturer can accurately estimate the maximum attenuation of any 2km cable length
cut from the source fiber reel.
Again to ensure accurate attenuation values are reported, the bi-directional OTDR measurement
is used for measurement of attenuation uniformity. A technique known as ‘sliding window’ is
used, whereby the attenuation of a 2km section is compared with the overall fiber attenuation,
and the difference between the 2km and overall attenuation is reported as the attenuation
uniformity. This 2km window is then incremented 250m down the length of the fiber, and the
attenuation of the new 2km section is compared with the overall attenuation. This is repeated in
250m steps until the entire fiber length has been characterized, and the maximum recorded
difference between the 2km section and overall attenuation is reported as the final attenuation
uniformity.
Bi-directional measurement of attenuation uniformity is a feature of Sterlite’s OTDR trace
analysis software, and these results are now available to the customer.

4. OTDR Attenuation Accuracy

OTDR attenuation measurement accuracy often depends on the OTDR instrument quality, and
in particular the center wavelength of the OTDR lasers. This is because fiber attenuation
changes with wavelength, thus a nominal 1310nm laser with actual center wavelength of
1307nm will measure a higher attenuation than a laser with a wavelength of 1312nm. Thus in
order to ensure optimum attenuation accuracy, OTDR lasers should be specified with a tight
tolerance to their nominal center wavelength. Sterlite OTDR instruments are specified with laser
wavelength tolerances less than ±5nm, and have attenuation accuracies better than
0.002dB/km, as calibrated to leading national measurement laboratories.

5. Conclusion
Attenuation measurement methods and OTDR equipment adopted by Sterlite Optical fibers
conform to industry leading specification and measurement definition. This together with
Sterlite’s commitment to product quality and measurement integrity affirms the Sterlite fiber
advantage over competitive offerings.

References
1. TIA/EIA TSB62-5 ITM-5 Characterization of Attenuation Uniformity of Optical Fiber

© December 2002. Sterlite Optical Technologies Ltd, E3 MIDC Waluj Aurangabad 431136, Maharashtra, India
Phone: +91-240-2564599 Fax: +91-240-2564598. Email: ofmarketing@sterlite.com www.sterliteoptical.com
No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of Sterlite Optical Technologies.

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