DS3 Fiber

DS3 fiber connections to either carrier or campus fiber environments are typically handled by an FLC (Fiber Loop Converter). An FLC accepts a DS3 (44.736Mbs) electrical input signal and converts it to optical data by a laser driver/diode module for output as a light-wave signal. This light-wave signal is most typically at 2.4Gbs, yielding SONET restoration capabilities if the network is architected in a ring configuration.

As with all typical multiplexing and terminating equipment, Fiber Loop Converters offer both local and remote loop-back options for testing and fault isolation. Sometimes referred to as a DS3 modem, Fiber Loop Converters convert a light-wave signal to an electrical signal, as well as provide remote testing and configuration. By multiplexing multiple DS3s into an OC-level circuit, a single fiber pair can carry hundreds of circuits. This is known as muxing up (carrier interconnects). While carriers have been using this form of multiplexing to "build-up" routes prior to transport over their backbone routes, only recently have business applications warranted the huge amounts of bandwidth that OC-level circuits can provide.

Reference sources for DS3 fibers:

• Adc.com Reference source for carrier-grade electronics, multiplexing equipment, and fiber interconnect equipment.
• Versitron.com references the Versitron F2300 DS3 interface extenders, having both single and multi-mode fiber interconnect options
• Codem.com references a cPCI-based card, enabling two DS3-fiber conversions in a single card slot
• Adtran.com references the Adtran Total Access OPTI-T200 system, able to convert OC-3 signals to DS3 signals.

Related sources:

• Omnitron-systems.com references a similar technology to the Fiber Loop Converter (DS3-Fiber), but converts Ethernet 10/100/1000 UTP to fiber optic.

Common Names / Muxing Levels:

Electrical Circuits

• DS0 = Digital Service Level 0 (64kb)
• DS1 = T1 = Digital Service Level 1 (1.544mb) = 24 DS0s
• DS3 = T3 = Digital Service Level 3 (45mb) = 28 DS1s or 672 DS0s
• M13 = Typical name for a multiplexer that combines 28 DS1s into a DS3 (i.e.: DS1 to DS3)

Optical Circuits

• OC3 = Optical Carrier (150Mb)
• OC12 = Optical Carrier (622Mb)
• OC48 = Optical Carrier (2488Mb)

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