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Tustin, California, US February 13, 2020 – ProLabs, the largest global independent supplier of high-speed cabling and fiber optic transceivers, has successfully demonstrated its connectivity solutions to the renowned University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab (UNH-IOL).

As a follow up to ProLabs investment in the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab, 25 products were sent to undergo the highly regarded UNH Open Networking Systems Interoperability testing, with all modules achieving the coveted standard in interoperability testing. Comprising of conformance and interoperability testing, alongside visual eye diagrams and with a focus on hardware level capabilities and compatibility between multiple devices, the rigorous testing marks ProLabs products as completely interoperable and fully conformed in specification and attestation parts.

“Our optical products have been truly proven to be of the best quality, having passed these third-party independent trials by UNH-IOL, who are highly-respected within the industry. It gives ProLabs a competitive edge to have this level of acknowledgement,” said David Sohn, VP of Technical Services at ProLabs. “Customers can have absolute trust that the optical connectivity solutions they purchase from us, are guaranteed to be of the highest standard and will fully conform and operate in the environments they are specified for. This is a qualification unparalleled and on top of our pre-existing rigorous in-house testing, gives our components a unique and undeniable level of quality assurance.”

This is the latest development in the partnership between ProLabs and the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab, which most recently included an appearance by ProLabs at the annual UNH-IOL Career Advancement Event.

This continued collaboration is creating an innovative legacy to educate and inspire students as they continue to develop industry-wide networking applications as well as providing an incomparable quality control process.

“We are pleased ProLabs has passed the required testing set forth in the Open Networking standards for both interoperability and conformance testing at the lab. It is encouraging to see a company incorporating interoperability as a key part of their production process,” said Michael Klempa, Technical Manager at the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab. “Alongside the testing, we are excited about the student advantage partnership with ProLabs. Our computer science and electrical engineering students are getting vital first-hand experience of working with component systems engineers from ProLabs, as well as allowing them an input to deliver their concepts and ideas. It is important we give these innovators of the future a thorough education to unlock the potential they could have on the industry.”

As the sector advances and new technologies emerge, interoperability is becoming more important. Operators worldwide are looking for innovative solutions that are proven to address the ever-increasing demands that are being placed upon their networks. By achieving these results through industry standard testing and its ongoing collaboration with the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab, ProLabs is enforcing its commitment to high-quality interoperable solutions and the engineers of the future.

About ProLabs
ProLabs has been the worldwide technology leader and independent provider of fiber optic transceivers and high-speed cabling since 1999. Operating in over 25 countries, ProLabs offers a wide range of connectivity solutions for the telecommunications, government, education, and enterprise sectors. With industry pioneering technology and expert service, ProLabs is transforming the way operators design their data centers and networks. All products are 100% OEM-compatible across more than 150 vendors and over 20,000 systems. Backed by lifetime warranty and around the clock support, every product sold is quality assured with one of the broadest inventories available for immediate shipment. ProLabs serves a global engineering customer base with deep technical expertise and through continuous investments in R&D, it ensures leading edge optical network solutions at scale. For more information visit www.prolabs.com and follow them on LinkedIn.

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Bandwidth Demand and Transceiver Options

Optical fiber in cellular infrastructure was first deployed in the 80s -- much the same time that fiber was also creeping into wireline networks for the first time. Then as now, the primary driver for fiber deployment was bandwidth demand, which will soon take a great leap forward as 5G cellular replaces older generations of cellular technology. What is being proposed in the 5G project is a cellular platform that can support 10 Gbps to mobile devices (needed for 4K and 8K video) and a two-order of magnitude increase in the number of devices connected to the cellular network (needed for the Internet of Things).

Linked to this expansive 5G vision (especially the video applications) are demanding latency requirements – not exceeding 1 ms. To top it all, 5G networks are expected to be considerably more energy efficient than the cellular generations that came before.

Optical Solutions for 5G Backhaul and Midhaul: No Surprises

By common consent this kind of network upgrade can only be achieved with extensive fiberization. In the past, fiber in cellular infrastructure was used only occasionally and mostly to connect cell sites to Mobile Switching Centers (MSCs) over a mobile backhaul network. Indeed, before 3G cellular, fiber wasn’t used much at all – copper-based TDM sufficed in the backhaul.

With 5G, the backhaul network will be strategically transformed. For the backhaul, cellular carriers will now be using packet-based transport over fiber increasingly, although there are going still be some copper and radio. Fiber may now be the technology of choice in the backhaul, but in some cases, environmental, regulatory, and time-to-market considerations work against fiber. More importantly, the fiberization of the fronthaul and midhaul segments of the mobile infrastructure is proceeding apace. Midhaul is the part of the mobile infrastructure that connects remote radio heads directly to the backhaul network.

Optical backhaul and midhaul invariably use SMF transport and generally backhaul infrastructure otherwise just reflects the technology being used in metro and regional wireline networks, which are quite similar in various ways to backhaul networks:

• Some backhaul infrastructure stretches hundreds of kilometers and today most longhaul backhaul links uses 100G in CFP modules either with or without an EDFA. More typically, 5G backhaul extends over a few tens of kilometers and the choice of transceiver technology is a little broader
• That said, 100G QSFP28 is very common with the ER variant being chosen for above 20 km to 40 km. For the backhaul/midhaul application, QSFP is chosen over CFP because of the massive difference in power consumption – QSFP consumes under 4w, while CFP is almost 30w
• Optical backhaul is already taking baby steps to the next generation, with 200G QSFP56 modules being offered specifically for backhaul/midhaul applications. No doubt 400G will follow 200G into this market.

Fronthaul Optics: The Rise of 25G

Fronthaul is generally the link between the core controller and the radio head or small cell. It also needs optical networking to fulfill its functional mission. Here, the fiber connects up the remote radio heads (RRUs) and the baseband units (BBUs). The growing interest in the fronthaul is also due in part to the use of the relatively new C-RAN architectures for 5G infrastructure, which has heavy and costly bandwidth requirements, that are creating significant new opportunities for fiber optic deployments. These opportunities are not just at 10G and 100G, but also at the relatively new 25G data rate. The fronthaul network, of course, represent significant costs for the 5G service providers, but these transceiver/optical networking costs can be justified since C-RANs can reduce cell site civil engineering costs, power consumption and maintenance.

The first inclination for a 5G service provider is to try out 10G transceivers for front haul because of their very low cost. Typically, the 10G module that is deployed in this market DWDM SFP, which can extend up to 40 km in its ER variant and up to 70 km in its ZR variant. When this isn’t enough data rate, 100G transceivers may offer a solution. However, what seems to be emerging as an optimal fronthaul solution is a 25G infrastructure.

There are several reasons why 25G optics is on the rise in 5G. One is that for some fronthaul applications 100G is overkill, while 10G doesn’t offer enough bandwidth. The advantages of 25G in mobile infrastructure is notably that 25G is lower cost because it uses an SFP format (SFP28), unlike the inherently more costly QSFP28 transceivers used for 100G.

The 25G transceivers that we are talking about in the previous paragraph consist of of the garden variety of SR, ER and LR transceivers. However, there is another potential – and more interesting use of 25G technology for 5G. About a year ago, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) released the first version of the specification on the Ethernet Common Public Radio Interface (eCPRI) used for 5G fronthaul, which will be used for 5G fronthaul interface. Based on the current literature, eCPRI may well be implemented over 25G WDM-PON, but a standard 25G transceiver can also handle eCPRI. This networking type is likely to be used in this application because it provides important benefits including low latency, fiber savings, plug-and-play Optical Network Units (ONUs), and simplified Operation and Maintenance (O&M).

Aspects of Third Party Providers

While one could perhaps make a similar comment about other kinds of service providers, we think that 5G carriers may be especially drawn to third-party suppliers for various reasons, but there are two reasons that seem especially powerful.

• First, despite all the ballyhoo, 5G is a somewhat risky prospect, so it makes sense to keep infrastructure costs very low. Third-party transceiver suppliers can help make that so. Specifically, with 5G being risky and service providers wanting to reduce cost, they can leverage their existing infrastructure by using WDM (possibly CWDM) solutions that third party suppliers can offer. No one really knows if all the additional services that 5G promises are services that the customer really wants. We can, for example, already get HD movies on our 4G phones, so can a huge upgrade of cell phone infrastructure be cost justified so that we can get ultra-HD movies?
• Also, with 5G at such an early stage of deployment, no one really knows for sure what the infrastructure “should” look like in any given geography. This is another reason to keep costs low; some transceivers may actually end up being thrown away. Conversely, some parts of the infrastructure may have to be expanded rapidly to meet unexpected demand and third-party transceiver firms have a good reputation for getting transceivers to customers rapidly.

All of the transceivers that we discuss above are available from third-party sources and we suspect that 5G service providers will use the third-party channel for at least part of their transceiver needs going forward.

Contact our global sales team for more information or checkout our solutions page for all your industry needs.

info@prolabs.com

Testing: An Essential for 400G Third-Party Optics

There are differences of opinion about when exactly it will happen, but the next big thing in networking will be 400G connectivity. By common consent, millions of 400 Gbps switch ports have been shipped in the past couple of years and they will start to be populated in earnest by 2020. The shift from 100G to 400G represents a welcome boost in bandwidth, in an era of bandwidth-hungry streaming video and hyperscale data centers. Yet 400G also presents challenge, notably in terms of its complex modulation scheme.

Testing is quickly becoming a major requirement for successful implementation of 400G transceivers – an issue that separates the sheep from the goats when customers choose among third-party transceivers. In light of all this, ProLabs has set up a strict testing regime for 400G modules to ensure trouble-free use of its 400G products and maintains a fully functional testing center at its facility.

Modulation Matters

Transceivers below 100G use simple modulation schemes. 100G brought more complex modulation schemes capable of transmitting multiple bits at once. PAM4, the scheme chosen for most 400G networking, is even more complex by combining two bits into a single symbol with four amplitude levels. PAM4 modules can provide a given data rate at half the frequency effectively doubling the network throughout and reducing power consumption.

For all of these advantages, PAM4 creates challenges in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), effectively reducing transceiver reach. In 400G, there is a much greater need for forward error correction (FEC) to mitigate the loss of signal integrity. These issues make module testing essential and third-party suppliers that are not capable of providing this testing are at risk in providing low quality products to their customers and losing these customers in the process.

Testing 400G

While 400G testing could be left to third-party testing firms, ProLabs thinks that this area is too important “to leave to the experts.” Not only does maintaining an in-house testing facility demonstrate ProLabs’s commitment to quality, but it ensures that modules can be speedily shipped to customers without some third-party acting as a roadblock. Fast shipping to customers is believed to be one of the factors that pushes customers towards using a third-party transceiver source in the first place.

None the less, testing of 400G modules is complicated. Unlike the testing of earlier generations of transceivers, it focuses less on whether there are errors than on whether the levels of errors are acceptable. Some 400G transceivers operate error-free post-FEC and others will not. A more sophisticated understanding of the error distribution and statistics is required in 400G modules than in earlier transceivers to ensure that error patterns are acceptable and what the root causes are of the errors that do occur. In addition, FEC functionality is itself complex and needs to be tested for both logical errors as well as dynamic power performance.

No measurements possible on the signal after the channel without de-embedding!

• Effect of the channel must be de-embedded. This can either be done using a VNA or a DSO

No longer can testing be confined to just one of the layers, but it must cover the link from the physical layer through to Ethernet. Test results must be able to reconcile where the issues lie and fully validate the margin implications of the FEC channel.

400G Testing at ProLabs

The ProLabs testing lab includes a MultiLane BERT tester, which is essential to much of the testing regime outlined above. There is also a Digital Sampling Oscilloscope (DSO) which can help testing waveforms and whether – in a given module – the electronics is behaving in a way that guarantees efficient information transmission from the module across the network. The testing lab also provides ways of testing how well a 400G transceiver behaves in a network. This includes having Juniper, Cisco and Arista 400G switches in which the 400G transceivers can be tried out. And there is also an EXFO 400G traffic generator, which can be used to test 400G transceivers in simulated traffic conditions, in other words to see how well the 400G transceiver will perform on a network link.

The modulation changes from 100G to 400G are profound and necessitate a significant leap forward in terms of testing at the supplier level – and that includes third-party suppliers. If a customer buys 400G modules from a supplier that does not have its own testing lab, it risks getting poorly performing modules and perhaps – to add insult to injury – receiving them with extended lead times.

Contact our global sales team for more information on our testing capabilities.

info@prolabs.com

Tustin, California, US, and Cirencester, UK, March 9, 2020: ProLabs, a global leader in optical networking and connectivity solutions, today expands next-generation 400G network capabilities with the launch of its new transceiver solutions to address rising network capacity demands.

Increasing 5G traffic is placing pressure on network operators to upgrade their current infrastructure. To address these challenges and meet the capacity demands, both now and in the future, ProLabs latest transceiver - the QSFP28-DD 2x100G - enables operators to increase port-density, solve interoperability issues between current and future infrastructure and minimize infrastructure investments.

“For network operators to excel in a competitive market, it is imperative to deliver high-quality, high-capacity network connectivity in line with growing customer expectations,” said Patrick Beard, Chief Technology Officer at ProLabs. “Doing so, requires investment in next-generation 400G infrastructure whilst also keeping costs to a minimum to protect the bottom line. Our latest transceiver solution allows networks to increase capacity while reducing upgrade costs to provide flexibility for the future.”

As data centers and network operators move to 400G to offer higher data rates, significant interoperability issues have risen with current network infrastructures - forcing entire systems to be replaced at a huge cost. The new ProLabs QSFP-DD 2x 100G transceiver utilizes two Non-Return to Zero (NRZ) connections and is compatible with many existing transceivers, offering large scale operators the ability to invest while minimizing cost.

Beard added: “We are delighted to be launching the QSFP-DD 2x 100G at OFC 2020. The solution will provide more operators with a transceiver-based option to combat the challenges of interoperability. It will make a significant difference to avoid the replacement of entire systems and the costs that come with it.”

ProLabs QSFP28-DD 2x100G transceivers utilize the new high-density CS® connector to hand off two 100G NRZ connections to the network and are interoperable with existing 100G-CWDM4, 100G-LR4, and 100G-4WDM10 transceivers. 2x100G transceivers offer large scale operators the ability to invest in the relief of network bottlenecks, reduce overhead expense and provide flexibility for the future.

ProLabs will launch its latest solution at the OFC Technical Conference from March 8-12, 2020.

For more information about the ProLabs new QSFP-DD 2x 100G transceiver, please visit the ProLabs website or email prolabs@proactive-pr.com.

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Proactive International PR Ltd
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Strong networks depend on certified OEM coding for continual reliability.

With quality and reliability of service as the primary objectives for many networking projects, it’s important to know your optics have the specifications needed to keep your systems up and running. Coding is one of the most important facets to consider to ensure successful deployment of a dependable and fast network.

There’s no room for error when coding optics, especially with hundreds of different OEM switches in various environments, each with different complexities and intricacies to remain aware of. With all components in your network requiring constant communication with each other, one wrong code could potentially cause costly time-sensitive delays.

ProLabs goes the extra mile in ensuring we code your optics with the most up-to-date codes and system requirements. From over 20 years of developing, testing, and engineering standard to unique custom coding solutions for our clients, we truly understand the importance of delivering certified compatibility and interoperability. Most importantly, we understand what our clients need to avoid the pitfalls of working with inexperienced optics suppliers.

1) What are the most frequently reported quality issues from other third-party suppliers?

Based on studies, quality issues most frequently found are related to reliability, compatibility, and interoperability. Coding is reported as the biggest issue with optics reading as the wrong part and receiving messages of “unsupported data”. This can cause network delays and system reboots, taking up critical time and possibly needing a system engineer to triage.

We understand the importance of quality and take measured steps in our manufacturing and testing processes. Our optics are coded and tested in its intended environment so that it functions 100% the same as an OEM version. Compatibility is key to ensure a seamless connection with no downtime. Known coding issues from some third-party suppliers: Sample products tested include common transceiver types such as SFP LX, QSFP LR4, SFP+ DWDM and a variety of DACs and AOCs.

Feedback for these parts in Cisco and other OEM systems is read as:

Transceivers –

Wrong part number shown in the EEPROM

• Consequence: Certain features may not be supported, and additional configuration may be required.

No “PID” displays

• Consequence: The switch may not recognize the part and can lead to disabled ports. Alternatively, the product may work now but future OEM software updates may cause failures down the road.

Displays "Non-Cisco" (Or other OEM)

• Consequence: When a part shows as a non-Cisco part or other non-OEM part it may render the port unusable and a replacement or recoded transceiver is needed.

Receive "UNSUPPORTED" message upon inserting in any switch ports

• Consequence: If the switch reads the part as non-compatible it may not be usable. Recoding or a replacement transceiver is again required.

DACs and AOCs –

Wrong part number shown in the EEPROM

• Consequence: Certain features may not be supported, and additional configuration may be required.

No “PID” displays

• Consequence: The switch may not recognize the part and can lead to disabled ports

No DOM reporting available on AOCs in multiple platforms

• Consequence: The lack of reporting may limit troubleshooting and monitoring capabilities

Module SPROM display 0 meters

• Consequence: The lack of detail may cause issues with troubleshooting and monitoring capabilities.

2) What happens if an optic is not coded correctly?

Miscoding a transceiver can have a number of unintended and costly side effects. Sometimes the effects are minor, such as a nice to have feature not being supported. Other times, the OEM switch won’t recognize the part as even compatible, thus rendering the port unusable until the transceiver is swapped out or recoded.

A rare but potentially devastating case is that the EEPROM can be missing password protection, leading to data corruption if an OEM switch accidentally overwrites part of the pre-installed coding. In turn, this breaks the transceiver, requiring replacement before that port is usable again. Any power surges or failures requires your infrastructure’s hardware to reboot, meaning poorly coded transceivers all run the risk of bringing down mission-critical networks in this way or worse.

All of these headaches are avoided by understanding end user needs and coding a product that avoids these pitfalls, which is exactly the value that our vast end user experience allows us to add to our transceivers that sets us a cut above other competitors.

3) What happens to the optic when there are revisions or updates to the OEM software?

Other suppliers’ optics may work out-of-the box, but revisions and changes to software can cause the parts to ultimately fail. We are constantly researching firmware upgrades and implementing them to maintain an up to date database. Our in-house coding facility programs all our parts to standard OEM specs as well as creating unique, one-of-a-kind coding for customized networking solutions. With over 20 years of coding knowledge and experience, we have refined a database of compatible programming that is unrivaled. Additionally, our proprietary Data Traveler System™ tracks and serializes every part to make sure it has gone through the proper coding and testing required. From keeping our lab systems up to date with the latest software to a pre-code hardware inspection, we create a solution that is guaranteed for long lasting compatibility and performance.

ProLabs certifies our optics are fully compatible on deployment. Request a quote or contact us to learn more today!

Tustin, California, US November 5 - ProLabs, a global leader in optical networking and connectivity solutions, today announced its completion of the Network Equipment Building System (NEBS) compliance test through global industry leader in quality assurance testing, Intertek.

ProLabs SFP, XFP and QSFP transceivers have undergone NEBS testing criteria for standards GR-63-CORE and GR-1089-CORE. The compliance test involves testing the products in extremities to ensure that they can resist maximal temperature, vibration and humidity. The test also measures and validates improved space planning, simplified installation and increased energy efficiency.

“Through our longstanding commitment to US service providers, responsible for building and maintaining connectivity for our communities, it was important to invest in the most thorough and stringent testing methods that certify our products as safe and reliable,” said Patrick Beard, Chief Technology Officer at ProLabs. “This allows us to further drive partner and public confidence in our end to end network infrastructure solutions.”

NEBS compliance refers to the conformance of a network product to the requirements of the NEBS standard. Compliance to this standard indicates that a network product or telecommunications equipment performs at its optimum capacity.

NEBS is made up of levels that refer to different aspects of equipment management and increased operational requirements. NEBS level 1 allows for a broader range of scenarios and NEBS level 3 requires that the equipment meets the requirements of specific GR-63-CORE and GR-1089-CORE standards that anticipate long-term network needs. Telecom companies use these standards to evaluate the solvency of equipment systems for continual service.

The North American telecom industry requires component solution providers to be NEBS compliant in order to ensure network integrity, compatibility and safety. The combination of rapid network expansion and the experience of carriers in managing their infrastructure during extreme weather events is likely to only increase the demand for NEBS-compliant devices. As those standards continue to evolve, they will become more demanding.

In addition to being NEBS compliant, many of ProLabs’ product lines, including optical transceivers and high speed cabling, are also MSA, TAA, and RoHS compliant. All ProLabs' products are rigorously tested and coded in its global, state-of-the-art facilities to ensure the highest levels of performance with 100% application testing in end-use conditions.

Press release provided by Real Wire.

Media Contact
Proactive International PR Ltd
prolabs@proactive-pr.com

We go further to help deliver maximum value for our customers.

In today’s constantly in flux technology world, staying on the edge of innovation can be a challenge. Enterprise, service provider, and data center infrastructures have become one of the most important aspects of day-to-day business operation. A strong performing network helps supports top-line growth, which why the quality and reliability of a business' network optics remain at the forefront.

Establishing and maintaining a network of mission-critical importance means ensuring seamless deployment that delivers the full functionality of any system. At the forefront of fiber optic technology development, coding, testing & customization, ProLabs always has quality in mind when it comes to our transceivers so that we can deliver on our customer promises.

What are the most frequently reported quality issues from other third-party suppliers?

Based on studies, quality issues most frequently found are related to reliability, compatibility, and interoperability. Coding is reported as the biggest issue with optics reading as the wrong part and receiving messages of “unsupported data”. This can cause network delays and system reboots, taking up critical time and possibly needing a system engineer to triage.

We understand the importance of quality and take measured steps in our manufacturing and testing processes. Our optics are coded and tested in its intended environment so that it functions 100% the same as an OEM version. Compatibility is key to ensure a seamless connection with no downtime.

What happens when an optic fails?

When a part fails or when you experience incompatibility issues - time, money, and resources are spent to find a resolution. With many other suppliers, this means losing several days waiting for a reply, each time a reply is needed.

Even if the problem is identified, if the part is the issue (mis-shipped, defective, miscoded, or incompatible), you now add transit delays too. Each step of the way, you’re the one losing time, incurring financial costs, and missing opportunities.

We stand by our 99.98% reliability rating, but in the rare instance of a failure, we will ship a replacement part to you the same day as to minimize any operational delays.

What do you do differently to resolve optic failures?

Because we are globally based with headquarters in the U.S. and UK, we can respond far faster and more thoroughly to customers who are located worldwide. Whether it's a coding solution, a part correction, or something else, our expert team dives into the issue headfirst with you, resolving it to your satisfaction. We explore the issue with you from a technical perspective, standing behind our product and at your side until your new deployment is fully successful.

Our world-class customer support and technical teams are available 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. With your mission-critical projects at stake, our global field engineers can be deployed on-site to help you resolve any issues. We are real people committed to quality and exceptional customer service (should there be any issues with our products).

If you want the assurance of quality and interoperability, request a quote or contact us today.

San Diego, California, US, March 10, 2020 – ProLabs, a leading provider of optical connectivity solutions, has been presented with the Optical Transceivers and Transponders award at the 2020 Lightwave Innovation Reviews.

The prestigious accolade recognizes the company’s commitment to stay at the forefront of innovation in optical connectivity, providing unbeatable world-class quality and unrivaled interoperability. Designed to be certified with multiple vendors including Cisco, Juniper and Arista, the ProLabs portfolio of multi-coded optical transceivers provide the same performance quality as Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) brands while allowing for cost reductions of up to 70%.

“It is a real honor for us to receive an award in the Optical Transceivers and Transponders award category,” said Patrick Beard, Chief Technology Officer at ProLabs. “For more than 15 years, ProLabs has delivered optical connectivity solutions that provide our global customers with seamless network interoperability. With our multi-coded optical transceivers, customers can reduce their total cost of ownership by procuring an ‘all-in-one’ product to replace the need for many OEM parts. Customers can eliminate the need to keep excess inventory, subsequently saving on added operational costs.”

The Lightwave Innovation Reviews is the latest in a string of successes for ProLabs which has been shortlisted for several technology and customer service awards in recent weeks.

ProLabs prides itself on the quality of its products and goes above and beyond the industry standard to re-create the environment that the components will be used in. Every product is 100% tested in its in-house coding facility, alongside its Data Traveler System™ (DTS) which tracks each serial number and certifies that each part has completed the necessary steps ready for shipping, ensuring network performance can always be relied on.

Now in its seventh year, the Lightwave Innovation Reviews recognizes excellence in a product or technology applicable to optical networks, highlighting the ground-breaking contributions that vendors, like ProLabs, are making to the optical networking industry.

Media Contact
Proactive International PR Ltd
prolabs@proactive-pr.com

Hospitals cannot afford downtime; scaling their network infrastructure doesn't have to be complicated.

For the past decade countries like the United States and Great Britain have invested billions in network infrastructure technology to modernize data interoperability in the healthcare sector. In the U.S. the implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) is now ubiquitous, used in over 85% of hospitals nationwide. EHRs have the advantage of providing accurate and complete information about patients, enabling physicians access to a patient's current medication, allergies, and laboratory results in real-time.

As EHRs are stored in the healthcare provider's technical infrastructure, so are the massive amounts of data collected by connected medical and imaging devices. Now network operators race to expand processing power to withstand the astounding surge in patients and medical data, further exacerbated by the shift of care from offline to online using telehealth services to deliver care virtually during the COVID-19 crisis.

With telehealth, it is both the connection to high-speed reliable internet from service providers such as Verizon, and the ability to process the bandwidth and data application via the healthcare provider's core network. Clinics and hospitals face network bottlenecks as routine patient visits are replaced with online video calls. Regardless, hospitals critically need to keep running, as does their data centers and network equipment. Downtime can result in reduced care quality and efficiency, or an inaccessible EHR, at worst life and death circumstances.

Hospitals accelerating their network capabilities should close these gaps by building on infrastructure that is already in place. The key is to seek scalable and simple solutions as it can be disastrous to launch complex projects during moments of peak need.

Below we explore four excellent network/IT upgrades:

1. Easy server memory upgrades – Not to be overlooked, upgrading server memory is a quick and cost-effective solution to handle increased data and application response times. View all ProLabs’ Cisco® UCS server memory options.

2. Simple 10G access network upgrades – Despite years of investment, many health access network elements are still connected by 1G or lower connections. Going from 1G to 10G increases speed and efficiency. We offer a wide range of SFP+ transceivers including CWDM and DWDM fixed and tunable wavelengths.

3. Upgrades from edge to core – Telehealth and other health-related applications are driving upgrades at both the edge and network core. ProLabs’ broad portfolio of 25G SFP28, 100G, and even 400G transceivers are popular upgrades to keep up with rapidly increasing demands while limiting cost exposure.

4. Fiber patch cables to future-proof hospital networks – Maximize fiber infrastructure with the right cabling that can support high-speed bandwidth network applications. AddOn offers a wide assortment of single-mode, multi-mode, and MPO cables. Our test certified fiber patch cables are robustly constructed, ensuring circuit integrity and seamless connectivity. A wide assortment of single-mode, multi-mode, and MPO cables are available. View all fiber patch cable options.

Hospitals cannot afford downtime and accelerating their network infrastructure doesn't have to be complicated. ProLabs is the preferred partner to have in your corner - we're here to help!

Get started today.