Optical

Communication
Certification
Optical Communication Associate (OC-A)
OCA1
Release 1.2.0
Course outline

CTP-OCA1-000 | January 2015

Optical Communications Associate (OC-A)

A. Introduction

E. Completion and Post-Course Examination

The OC-A course is a five-day course designed for anyone

seeking a firm understanding of optical communications
concepts, terminology, and applications. In addition, OC
Associate certification provides the prerequisite knowledge
for the next level of certifications, either the operationsfocused OC-Professional (OC-P) or the design-focused
OC-Consultant (OC-C).

There is an online, post-course examination associated with

this course. The duration of the exam is 2 hours, and the
exam is administered separately from the training course.
Students taking the Optical Communications Associate
Level training have two options for completion:
>> The student opts to receive a Certificate of
Completion and is, therefore, not required to
complete the examination.
>> The student completes the examination with a passing
grade and receives an Optical Communications
Associates certificate. (Please note: It is expected that
the student will complete the post-course examination
within 30 days of completing the course. If the time
period between course completion and post-course
examination exceeds 30 days, or should the students
need to re-take the examination, an additional cost
would apply.)

B. Objectives
>> Upon successful completion of this course, students

should be able to:

>> Describe applications of optical communications

technology
>> Explain properties of light
>> Understand the fundamental requirements for optical

transmission
>> List and describe the modulation types used in optical

transmission
>> List and describe the types of optical transmitters
>> List and describe the types of optical receivers
>> Identify and describe optical fiber and connectors

types used as optical network transmission medium

>> Explain Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing

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(DWDM) optical components including passive optical

filters, optical Modules, optical components, amplifiers
and amplification types
Identify and describe optical network topologies,
network protection and site types
Describe Synchronous Optical Network (SONET)
technology
Describe Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH)
technology
Describe Optical Transport Network (OTN) technology
Describe Software Defined Networks (SDN)

C. Conditions
>> There is a maximum of 12 students.
>> Lectures take place in a classroom using projector

displays.
>> Demonstrations and exercises are conducted in the
classroom and training lab.
>> Class time balance is: (estimate) 95% formal
presentation and 5% administrative activities.

D. Prior Knowledge Recommendations

>> Awareness of digital communications technology and

telecommunications systems
>> Understanding of basic network operations and

terminology

F. Time
The average time for this training course is 5 days.

G. Course Outline
Module 1: INTRODUCTION TO OPTICAL
COMMUNICATION
>> List common uses of fiber optic technology
>> Discuss applications of optical communications

network such as:

Metro
Long Haul
Submarine
Data Center/Cloud
>> List and explain key developments in optical
communications

Module 2: PROPERTIES OF LIGHT

>> Understand the mathematical relationship of frequency

and wavelength
>> Define light in terms of wave properties and particle

properties
>> Explain reflection and refraction of light

Module 3: OPTICAL TRANSMISSION BASICS

>> Understand the roles of the four basic components of

optical transmission
Optical modulation scheme
Optical transmitter
Optical receiver
Optical transmission medium

Copyright 2015 Ciena Corporation. All rights reserved

January 2015

Optical Communications Associate (OC-A)

Module 4: OPTICAL MODULATION

>> Understand the concepts of optical modulation and

detection

Module 5: OPTICAL TRANSMITTERS

>> Identify common optical transmitter types

>> Describe and explain function of Laser Diode (LD)

based optical transmitters

>> Identify different types of laser diodes
>> Explore LD physical construction
>> Understand the meaning of, and differences between

decibels (dB) and decibels per milliwatt (dBm)

Module 6: OPTICAL RECEIVERS

>> Describe the role of optical receivers used in optical

communications
>> List the types of photodiodes used in optical receivers

Module 7: OPTICAL TRANSMISSION MEDIUM

>> Describe the physical construction of optical fiber
>> Explain characteristics of single and multimode optical

fiber types
>> Explain the method of manufacture of optical fiber
>> Describe optical fiber connector types
>> Understand how light propagates in optical fiber

within the context of entering the fiber core,

transmission windows and associated impairments

Module 8: DWDM OPTICAL COMPONENTS

>> Identify the various types of optical components used

in DWDM fiber optic networks including:

Optical attenuator
Optical amplifiers
Optical Filters
Optical splitters and couplers
Optical switches

Module 9: OPTICAL NETWORK TYPES

>> Discuss evolution of optical networks and optical
>>
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network types
Discuss common client signal support requirements
Discuss optical protection options
Describe DWDM site types and optical NEs
Describe optical amplifier types
Describe ROADM site types

Module 10: SONET FOUNDATIONS

>> Describe the benefits of SONET
>> Describe SONET as a Time Division Multiplexing
>>
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(TDM) technology
Describe the signals SONET was designed to transport
Explain the structure of the SONET frame
Explain the mapping of signals into an STS-1 frame
Describe the role of synchronization in SONET
Describe a SONET Network Element (NE)
Describe roles and functions of an NE
Describe SONET network topologies
Describe the evolution of SONET

Module 11: SDH FOUNDATIONS

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Describe the benefits of SDH

Describe SDH as a TDM technology
Describe the signals SDH was designed to transport
Explain the structure of the SDH frame
Explain the mapping of signals into an STM-1 frame
Describe the role of synchronization in SDH
Describe an SDH NE
Describe roles and functions of an NE
Describe SDH network topologies
Describe the evolution of SDH

Module 12: OPTICAL TRANSPORT NETWORK

FOUNDATIONS
>> Describe OTN as an evolution in optical transport
>> Describe the purpose and benefits of OTN
>> Describe OTN as a enabling technology for DWDM

networks
>> Describe the OTN optical transport hierarchy and

multiplexing schemes
>> Describe supported client signal types
>> Describe OPU and ODU digital wrappers and payload

mapping
>> Describe the evolution of OTN
OTN signal format
OTN applications

Module 13: SOFTWARE DEFINED NETWORKS (SDN)

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Discuss the cloud service model

List the types of cloud services and their uses
Identify cloud challenges
Identify the solutions for the challenges faced by the
service providers
>> Define Software Defined Networks (SDN)
>> Define Network Function Virtualization (NFV)
>> Explore enabling SDN over OC transport networks

Copyright 2015 Ciena Corporation. All rights reserved

January 2015