End to End Optical Network Testbed

Strengthening India’s Indigenous Optical Communication Ecosystem

Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), under the guidance of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, is establishing an End-to-End Optical Network Testbed to support the development, testing, validation and deployment of indigenous optical communication technologies. The testbed brings together optical core networks, optical access networks, quantum security technologies, advanced test and measurement infrastructure in an integrated environment. It provides a platform for evaluating optical communication products and systems under real-world network conditions.

About the Testbed

The End-to-End Optical Network Testbed is designed to bridge the gap between technology development and field deployment by providing an integrated environment for:

Technology validation
Multi-vendor interoperability testing
Performance evaluation
Optical component characterization
Protocol and network testing
Quantum-secure communication testing
Environmental testing
Pre-deployment and field-readiness assessment

The platform enables indigenous optical products, modules, subsystems and network solutions to be evaluated against practical network requirements before large-scale deployment.

Key Capabilities & Objectives

End-to-End Optical Network Emulation
Replicate realistic optical network architectures spanning core, access and quantum communication networks.
Multi-Vendor Interoperability
Test systems, modules, components and equipment from multiple vendors in a common network environment.
Performance & Measurement
Evaluate system performance and optical characteristics under realistic network and environmental conditions using advanced measurement instruments.
Quantum-Secure Communication Validation
Test QKD systems and their interfaces with encryption setups, key management networks and third-party QRNG components.
Indigenous Technology Development & Commercialization
Provide a platform for researchers, developers, startups and manufacturers to develop, validate and transition Made-in-India optical technologies from laboratory prototypes to field-ready solutions.
Innovation & Self-Reliance
Accelerate optical technology innovation, interoperability testing and commercialization while strengthening a robust and globally competitive Indian optical communication ecosystem.

Integrated Testbed Architecture

Optical Core
- The optical core transport network comprises ROADMs with EDFAs, WSS, Dynamic MUX/DEMUX units, ILAs, Transponders, Muxponders and OTN cross-connect switches (OTN data switching and grooming).
- Provides a test infrastructure for multiple vendors to integrate and test network components and systems.
- Supports Alien Wavelength testing and performance evaluation.

Optical Access
- Supports GPON and next-generation PON multi-vendor testing.
- Enables coexistence of different PON technologies over a shared Optical Distribution Network.

Quantum Security
- Infrastructure for evaluating Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems.
- Supports Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) evaluation and integration.
- Supports key management technologies.
- Enables evaluation of quantum-secure encryption technologies.

Advanced Test and Measurement Instruments
- Comprehensive suite of electrical test instruments.
- Optical test and measurement instruments.
- Protocol testing and analysis instruments.
- Environmental test instruments for detailed characterization and validation.

Application Areas & Use Cases

1. Optical Core Network The Optical Core Network environment provides a realistic platform for testing high-capacity optical transport technologies and components.
- DWDM & Optical Transport Network Testing
  - Testing/evaluation of DWDM L0 systems
  - Validation and testing of standalone optical line cards, muxponders/transponders having rates 100G/200G/400G, optical transceivers (QSFP+, QSFP28, QSFP-DD and CFP2-DCO), optical components and optical sub-modules
  - Alien wavelength feature testing
  - Testing/evaluation of OTN systems at multi-capacity
- Optical Component Testing The testbed supports evaluation of:
  - EDFA – Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier
  - MUX/DEMUX – Multiplexer/Demultiplexer systems (Dynamic/Fixed)
  - ILA – In-Line Amplifier
  - ROADM – Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer
  - Optical transceivers and sub-modules
  - Optical Fibre and associated optical components
- Multi-Protocol Analysis The infrastructure enables analysis and testing across multiple protocols and technologies, including:
  - OTN – Optical Transport Network
  - Optical Fibre Channel
  - Ethernet
  - SDH – Synchronous Digital Hierarchy
  - CPRI – Common Public Radio Interface

2. Optical Access Network The Optical Access Network provides a multi-vendor environment for evaluating passive optical network technologies and equipment.
- GPON / NG-PON Coexistence The testbed enables coexistence and interoperability testing of:
  - GPON – Gigabit Passive Optical Network
  - Next Generation-PON
  - Shared Optical Distribution Network (ODN)
- Multi-Vendor Interoperability Equipment from different manufacturers can be integrated and tested in a common environment to evaluate interoperability between:
  - OLTs – Optical Line Terminals
  - ONTs – Optical Network Terminals
  - Optical transceivers
  - Ethernet interfaces
  - Passive optical components
- Performance Testing The access network environment enables evaluation of:
  - Transceiver performance
  - Optical power levels
  - Link quality
  - Interoperability
  - Ethernet interface performance

3. Quantum Security
- Building Security into the Optical Network Quantum security is an integral part of the End-to-End Optical Network Testbed, enabling evaluation of technologies designed for secure communication in the quantum era.
- QKD Testing The testbed supports testing of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems and their interfaces with key management and encryption infrastructure.
- Key Management & Relay Capabilities include:
  - QKD interface testing (over standard ETSI interface)
  - Key management system integration
  - Key relay and interoperability testing
  - Integration with application entities (e.g. encryptors, routers, etc.)
  - Evaluation of secure key distribution architectures
- QRNG Integration The platform supports integration and testing of third-party Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs) for secure random number generation and use in QKD key generation.
- Quantum Security Evaluation The testbed can be used to evaluate the performance and security of QKD-based systems across different network configurations, including:
  - Multicore / hollow-core fibre environments
  - Other emerging optical communication architectures

4. Test & Measurement Infrastructure
- Comprehensive Testing from Component to Network Level The testbed is equipped with advanced test and measurement capabilities to characterize optical components, links, subsystems and complete network solutions.
- Optical Characterization Testing and characterization of optical components and fibre infrastructure, including:
  - Single Core Fibre
  - Multi-Core Fibre
  - Optical splitters
  - Couplers
  - Optical filters
  - Other passive and active optical components
- Optical Parameter Measurements The platform supports measurement of key optical parameters such as:
  - Insertion Loss
  - Return Loss
  - PDL – Polarization Dependent Loss
  - CD – Chromatic Dispersion
  - PMD – Polarization Mode Dispersion
- Signal Quality and Performance Analysis Signal quality and performance can be evaluated for data rates of up to 400G, including advanced modulation formats such as QPSK, 16-QAM, PAM4 and other high-order modulation techniques, through:
  - Eye Diagram
  - Constellation analysis
  - BER analysis
  - GPON and XGS-PON protocol analysis
  - Optical modulation analysis
  - Optical spectrum analysis
  - Signal-to-noise ratio and noise figure
- Environmental & Reliability Testing Environmental testing capabilities help evaluate equipment performance under different operating conditions and improve long-term system reliability.

A Platform for Collaboration

The testbed can serve as a collaborative environment for:

Indian optical technology developers
Telecom equipment manufacturers
Optical component manufacturers
Start-ups and MSMEs
Research institutions
Academic institutions
Telecom operators
Network solution providers
Government and strategic organizations

It provides a common platform for collaborative testing, technology validation and development of interoperable optical communication solutions.

Call to Action

Are you developing an optical communication product, component, module or subsystem?

Collaborate. Test. Validate. Innovate.

Centre for Development of Telematics

Telecom Technology Centre of Govt. of India