Furukawa, KDDI R&D, and Teknovus, Announce End-to-End Fiber-Based Clock Synchronization Solution for Backhaul Traffic
- Joint Solution Eliminates Expensive GPS Receivers While Extending Coverage -

The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (Furukawa) (TSE:5801), KDDI R&D Laboratories (KDDI R&D), and Teknovus Inc.(Teknovus) today announced an end-to-end fiber-based backhaul transport solution that eliminates the need for costly GPS receivers at each base station throughout the cellular network. The solution integrates one GPS receiver with the OLT (Optical Line Terminal), distributing carrier-grade clock signaling throughout the EPON network to every connected base station. Service providers can now support backhaul traffic without the need for costly GPS receivers and cabling, enabling substantial CAPEX saving. In addition, this solution enables coverage to areas with limited GPS reception.

This end-to-end clock synchronization solution is based upon:

• Furukawa provided OLT integrated GPS receiver and multiplexing function into EPON frame using Teknovus OLT chip, and SFP-ONU (Small Form Factor Pluggable-Optical Network Unit), the FITELwave AG9, based on the Teknovus ONU chips, whose form factor and power fits within the SFP enclosures, plugging into standard wire line and wireless access equipment
• KDDI R&D – which has developed timing solutions over fiber-based networks based without the need for costly GPS transceivers at every base station
• Teknovus Turbo-EPON^TM chips and embedded software.  Teknovus EPON chips are the industry leader in high-integration and low-power for fiber-based networks

Together, the combined solution offers all of the benefits of Teknovus' EPON-based fiber networks with the flexibility of Furukawa's OLT and SFP-ONU, and inexpensive timing solutions from KDDI R&D.

The solution will be demonstrated by OFS, Furukawa's affiliate, at booth 2539 during OFC 2009.

EPON Equipment

The EPON system for the solution consists of the OLT installed in the central office, and ONUs installed at every connected base station site.

The OLT equipment enables the multiplexing of GPS reference signals provided from the internal GPS receiver into EPON frames and their transmission to every connected ONU.  This approach supporting the connection of GPS antennas to the GPS input port of the OLT for the building of precise and cost effective time distribution ystem in the backhaul networks.  The OLT has only 1 U-height and can be mounted to a 19 inch rack.  It has dual EPON ports that are capable of being connected to up to 64 ONUs each, enabling up to 128 ONUs in total.  The equipment has redundant dual power supply modules.  The OLT also has dual uplink Ethernet ports and network management interface port.

The ONU, previously developed by Furukawa in 2007, has distinctive features of:

• SFP-shaped extremely small dimension
• pluggable structure
• light weight
• power savings

These features will contribute to reduce size and power consumption at the base station site.

Appearance of EPON OLT

Appearance of SFP-shaped EPON ONU called FITELwave AG9