Today, worldwide communication backbones are based mostly on fiber optics. Innovation and the general development in this area belongs to the most exciting ones in this century, thus the field of fiber optics is still expanding and has high common interest.

Who should attend?

Engineers and Technicians, IT & Network Managers, Project Managers or anyone interested in this technology.

Course activity:

This course combines theory with basic practical skills (assignments).

Course Content:

Session 1     Theory and Principles of Fiber Optics

• What is Fiber Optics
• Basic Physics – how it works?
• Light propagation
• Snell's Law
• Fiber Composition
• Transmission  
• Why use fiber?
• Frequency spectrum
• Fresnel reflections

Session 2     Fibre Optic Types and Fabrication Techniques

• Single Mode and Multimode
• Fiber Sizes – graded and stepped index fiber
• What are they made of – how they are made
• Attenuation ( dBm )
• Dispersion
• Micobends

Session 3     Applications of Fibre Optics Cables

• Communication – Data, Voice, Imaging, Lighting, Medicine and Security.
• Fiber optics standards – TIA/EIA & ITU-T
• Basic parts of a Optical Communication link.
• Transmitters
• Receivers

Session 4 Fibre Optic Safety

• Why emphasis on safety?
• Safety with optical fiber
• Safety with light sources
• Methods and consequences

Session 5 Cable Types and their construction

• Loose tube and tight buffered- Applications
• Plastic optical fiber
• Outdoor cables (armored and dielectric)
• Indoor cables (riser rated and plenum); cordage
• Breakout cables
• Ribbon cables
• Submarine cables
• Cable specifications
• National Electric Code - Raceways

Session 6 Cable Preparation

• Techniques for termination
• Outdoor cable preparation (Dielectric and armored)
• Indoor cable preparation
• Cable storage and housing systems
• Bend radius

Session 7     Termination methods and connector types

• Connector types and uses (traditional and SFF)
• Direct termination (Polish and non-polish); pigtails
• Intrinsic / Extrinsic factors that affect connector performance
• Multi-fiber connectors

Session 8 T roubleshooting

• Signs of Problems
• Basic Troubleshooting (with a light source / interconnection)
• Basic power meter use

Session 9 Optical Sources & Detectors &

• LED's, VCSEL's, Laser's and Modulators, Photodiodes / Phototransistors

Session 10    Cable Installation and Placement Technique

• Duct, aerial and direct buried applications
• Loading effects on Fiber during installations,
• Installation equipment
• Patch panel / rack cable preparation

Session 11   Cable Preparation Techniques for Splicing

• Outdoor cable preparation; splicing indoor cables

Session 12 Splicing Methods and Hardware  

• Splicing hardware (splice trays and enclosures) and tools; mechanical splicing and fusion splicing 

Session 13 Fibre Optic Testing and Documentation

• Continuity testing, Optical loss budgeting, Advanced Optical Power Meters, Optical Time Domain Reflectometers (OTDR's) and System Documentation

Session 14 Network Design for Campus and Backbone

• System Design based on applications, bandwidth, fault tolerance and Internetworking requirements; future proofing standards

Session 15   Revision / Preparation for the ETA Examination