Once considered a luxury, remote lab management is now an essential element in system test laboratory operations. By automating lab infrastructure, test processes can be operated remotely, enabling the provision of Lab-as-a-Service (LaaS) for round-the-clock test cycles.
Any input port can connect to any output port through an optical circuit switch, enabling simplified connections and the configuration and conducting of remote testing in real time. This allows operators to use a remote workforce, saving on staffing and travel expenses and reducing cable installation times by up to 75%. Test environments can be quickly set up, modified and recalled without the need for manual intervention, reducing the likelihood of human error.
By deploying optical circuit switching, expensive test and network equipment can be shared across a number of test environments, minimising repeated high-cost equipment purchases and making savings on power and rack space. As a result, CAPEX savings of 50% or more are easily achievable. Unlike packet switches, signals are not retimed in optical circuit switches, allowing users to mimic and troubleshoot real time network deployments in the lab, improving accuracy and reducing customer response time. As these switches are transparent to transmission wavelengths, direction, protocol and bit rate, they can be used for any media and speed up to 800 Gbps and beyond, meeting the future demands of the industry.
