With new acquisitions no longer on the books and fiber optic communications in high demand for securing government networks, prime U.S. government contractor
recently began working with leading fiber optic equipment manufacturer
to bolster existing fiber infrastructure for its government and corporate clients.
“New optical fiber multiplexing technology is becoming a critical part of our support strategy for government organizations like NIH, Army base hospitals and other customers that are experiencing larger volumes of data at a time when security is at its highest and budget acquisitions are at their lowest,” commented Chetan Gulati, Corporate Resource Director for Systems Plus, Rockville, Maryland, referring to FiberPlex’s
active wave division multiplexers
and
products.
FiberPlex’s WDM16, for example, is capable of multiplexing up to 16 channels at 3Gb/s each onto an existing fiber pair. By multiplexing new bandwidth capability onto existing fiber infrastructure using the WDM16, Systems Plus can effectively reduce its clients’ network transport acquisition costs to pennies on the dollar compared to the cost of installing new fiber optic runs with associated labor and conduit expenses to yield the same capacity gain.
In addition to multiplexing onto existing fiber optic build-outs for increasing bandwidth capacity, FiberPlex also offers
for its multiplexer that make it possible for agencies to interface single-mode fiber cable onto existing multi-mode fiber transport links. Such bidirectional coupling of the two fiber formats is especially useful to large corporations and government agencies that acquired multi-mode optical cabling more than a decade ago as part of a government-wide mandate to secure communications, but now want to expand by adding the latest high-performance single-mode optical cable.
Systems Plus is a GSA OASIS SB, Alliant SB, IT and MOBIS contractor with a large portfolio of Government Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC) and Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA). The company is also a prime contractor for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its IT and Cyber Communication Division’s integration services span across multiple federal agencies in development and installation of technical solutions for both civilian and Department of Defense (DoD) agencies.
Optical fiber cable has ten times the transference rate of copper cable at the high end and can transmit data error-free over greater distances by a 400:1 ratio. For the medical field especially, bidirectional, high-capacity optical fiber communications is becoming increasingly critical for creating new interactive opportunities between emergency command centers and responders at the state, regional, and global level during a catastrophic event.
In addition, unlike copper cable, optical fiber communications is not susceptible to electromagnetic radiation that can “leak” data. Its electrical isolation characteristics make it virtually immune to data breaches, another reason why optical fiber is preferred over copper cabling by government and private agencies.
“We share the same goal with our partner Systems Plus, which is to provide government agencies with fiber optic links that offer the capacity and security they need now, without having to wait until they have acquisition budgets to pay for entirely new installations,” commented FiberPlex’s Director of Government Relations Mitch Abel.
FiberPlex manufactures a line of fiber optic and network products for securing communications and data. The company has a brand presence that goes back a quarter of a century as a leading global communications company, including an early leadership role in TEMPEST mitigation for the U.S. government.
