Quebec City, Canada. EXFO Inc. announced the launch of its new lab solution, which combines the LTB-8 rackmount platform, the FTBx-88200NGE Power Blazer 100G Multiservice Test Module, and the EXFO MultiLink web-based multi-user interface. The company also said it has reached a worldwide reseller agreement with pocketBERT.
With the goal to help network solution vendors (NSV) innovate faster and test more efficiently, the LTB-8 is a highly scalable, highly compact platform offering the 100G port density necessary to maximize shelf space while minimizing costs. The eight-slot configuration supports simultaneously testing of eight 100G modules supporting multiple interface test combinations. The platform delivers a full suite of lab testing features
EXFO also introduced a new member of the Power Blazer family, the FTBx-88200NGE, which offers integrated CFP4 and QSFP+/QSFP28 interfaces in alignment with the next-generation 100G network deployment, along with an SFP+ port. The FTBx-88200NGE Power Blazer module offers a full suite of advanced test functionalities to speed up product development and verification, including multistage ODU multiplexing, multichannel OTN, and advanced troubleshooting capabilities.
Furthermore, the newly launched FTBx-88200NGE Power Blazer can be uniquely moved from the LTB-8 rackmount platform into a handheld, portable FTB-2 Pro platform for the most ultimate ease of transition within the lab, between labs, and from lab to the field. With this pairing of platforms, NSVs can reap the cost savings by using the same modules in one lab environment to another and with a common GUI, minimizing training between multiple users.
“Over the past few years, EXFO has been a leading provider of test solutions to network solution vendors starting with the industry’s first 100GE/OTU4 tester,” said Claudio Mazzuca, EXFO’s vice president, Transport and Service Assurance Division. “As the industry moves into the mass deployment stage for 100G and prepares for 400G as the next step, it is clear that NSVs are facing new challenges and need to be more agile and cost effective in their development cycles. With the new solutions launched today, EXFO is now uniquely positioned to partner with our NSV customers and deliver a truly flexible test infrastructure that can help them face these challenges head on.”
EXFO also announced that it has signed an exclusive, worldwide reselling agreement with pocketBERT. This agreement allows EXFO to add bit-error-rate testers (BERT) to its wide range of lab and manufacturing testing solutions for customers across the globe.
The reseller agreement targets two of pocketBERT’s highly compact and easy-to-use testers, namely the pB10A 10-Gb/s BERT and the new pB100A4, a quad 24 Gbit/s to 30 Gbit/s BERT. These testers are both feature-rich and budget-friendly, and complement EXFO’s existing solutions for network solution vendors (NSVs). EXFO supplies NSVs with an extensive array of lab and manufacturing test solutions from variable attenuators and power meters to switches, light sources and more.
“Thanks to this partnership with pocketBERT, our offer fills the market’s current gap in bit error rate testing for network solution vendors worldwide. We are glad to deliver complete, cost-effective 10G and 100G testing solutions for NSVs and transceiver manufacturers in the fast-growing market segment of CFP2, CFP4, QSFP24 and QSFP28 tests,” said Stéphane Chabot, vice president for EXFO’s Physical Layer Test Division.
“pocketBERT is pleased to enter this resellers agreement with EXFO for our 10 Gbit/s and quad 28 Gbit/s BERT products. We are excited to reach a worldwide customer-base through EXFO’s local presence and support structure. Clients now have easy access to a comprehensive range of products covering the optical and electrical 10G and 100G test and verification applications,” indicated Oswin M. Schreiber, co-founder of pocketBERT Inc., which is based in San Diego.
