Certified Optical Network Associate (CONA)

This course introduces optical networking & covers network infrastructure, as well as transmission systems that use direct detection technology. These direct detection systems may be used to provide very high capacity (up to 1.6Tb/s) Ethernet channels within data centres & commonly 100 & 400Gb/s data rates for metro data centre interconnect (DCI). LAN & campus backbones, FTTA & 5G front haul also use direct detection, as do point-to-point FTTH, full fibre business connections & many transport & utility networks. Long haul OTN systems can use direct detection systems to provide capacity of 800Gb/s+ per fibre pair over thousands of km.

You will learn what is required for satisfactory system performance of such networks & how the performance can be affected by the properties and the quality of the physical fibre infrastructure including such issues as fibre type, reflections, attenuation, chromatic dispersion & polarisation mode dispersion. You will learn how to multiply the capacity of single channel systems using SDM (parallel fibres) or by applying appropriate WDM technologies including SWDM, WWDM, CWDM or DWDM. You’ll be able to extend the reach of the systems to avoid regeneration by using amplifiers, (EDFAs, Raman, SOAs) & through optical dispersion management.

Through the use of design exercises and assignments, you will learn how to design optical networking systems to provide efficient & cost-effective solutions for many network applications.

Features

• Scenario based
• Exercises and ongoing case study
• Uses OTT’s unique WhizzieKit virtual optical network training system
• Comprehensive course manual plus support materials online
• Pass the assessment to gain Certified Optical Network Associate (CONA) status

Key outcomes

• Design optical links that provide cost-effective solutions for many network applications
• Specify the components that are required to build a transmission link and describe how they should be configured
• Design links for performance and testability
• Assess options for SDM and WDM transceivers including 100G and 400G Ethernet
• Determine the optical power budget of different transmission systems
• Calculate the optical loss budget for a transmission link
• Decide when & where optical amplifiers are needed & identify suitable products
• Calculate whether chromatic dispersion compensation is required for a link, & if so specify an appropriate dispersion management solution
• Explain the role of an optical supervisory circuit & plan for its implementation in the network
• Verify that a link design is viable in terms of power levels, chromatic dispersion limits & PMD levels
• Consider options for CWDM, DWDM and Raman amplified solutions for lighting up dark fibre links

CONA is a great course if you need a broad foundation of knowledge of optical networks It suits job roles such as: planner, project manager, operations staff, network manager. It provides the foundation for the advanced Certified Optical Network Engineer (CONE) course which covers coherent systems.

OTT’s CFCE course, which covers characterisation of dark fibres & analysis of results may be of interest to you or your colleagues.