Analysis of optical line failures in 5G networks
Improving the efficiency of fault handling through rapid action
Joint development with small and medium-sized enterprise Coweaver
LG Uplus announced on the 4th that it has completed the development of an integrated optical line monitoring system that can systematically manage wired optical lines constructed between base stations and repeaters and identify the cause and location of failures in real time.

The newly developed optical line monitoring system is characterized by its simultaneous application to 5G base stations, relay stations, and wired backbone networks.

This is the first integrated optical fiber management system in Korea that provides both an optical fiber measurement function (Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer, OTDR) that measures loss, disconnection points, and distance of the optical fiber line, and an optical power meter (OPM) that analyzes optical signals by wavelength to measure quality.

While the technology used to monitor existing optical lines was limited to partially identifying open points in optical cables based on OTDR, the integrated optical line monitoring system can simultaneously monitor up to 160,000 optical cables and the optical wavelengths used for 5G services within the optical cables to manage optical line quality.

Accordingly, when a 5G network base station failure occurs, the optical line break, line quality deterioration, or base station equipment problem is immediately identified and provided to the network operator. We have come to provide the highest quality and most stable service.

Additionally, the integrated optical fiber monitoring system can be expanded to cover not only 5G networks but also wired backbone network sections by using wavelengths that do not affect existing services, enabling real-time monitoring of the quality of all optical fiber sections.

LG Uplus plans to apply this system, developed in collaboration with small and medium-sized enterprise Coweaver, to its 5G network sections, and plans to continue developing solutions to improve network quality with domestic manufacturers.

LG Uplus NW Development Manager Lee Sang-heon said, “With the development of the integrated optical line monitoring system, we can now monitor the quality of optical signals in service and whether there are any optical line breaks in real time, allowing us to quickly identify and take action on the cause of service interruptions.” He added, “This will enable us to provide high-quality, uninterrupted 5G services.”