EXFO Launches C-OTDR to Speed Subsea Cable Repairs

Publication Staff, EXFO
September 22, 2026

EXFO has introduced the USO-1618 submarine optical time-domain reflectometer as a faster way to locate faults on amplified undersea systems. Announced on September 22, 2026, the co-propagation OTDR, or C-OTDR, is designed to help operators move from fault detection to repair planning more quickly. EXFO says the instrument can test each fiber pair in three minutes, giving operations teams earlier information when they are competing for limited repair capacity.

The USO-1618 combines high output power with an 18 dB dynamic range for amplified submarine topologies. EXFO says it can identify a fault to within about 5 meters and use automated analysis to present the location without requiring manual trace interpretation. For a 24-pair amplified cable, the company estimates validation can take roughly one hour instead of several days. The system supports JSON input and output plus REST API control for integration with cable-management platforms. A 2U rack format is intended for landing stations, while a portable configuration supports work in the field and aboard repair vessels.

The commercial significance is tied to the time and scarcity involved in marine repair. EXFO estimates that approximately 200 submarine cable faults occur annually, while about 25 dedicated repair vessels serve the global network. The company also places repair costs at up to $1 million per day and says the average interval from fault detection to the start of repair is 90 days. Conventional OTDR work on amplified cables can require as much as six hours per fiber pair, delaying decisions about vessel coordination and restoration activity.

EXFO designed the platform for rackmount or portable use from a landing station through repair-vessel operations. Its stated lifecycle coverage includes deployment, commissioning, maintenance, troubleshooting, fault localization and post-repair validation. The product has now been formally announced, and the next confirmed milestone is a live demonstration at Submarine Networks World in Singapore on September 23–24, 2026, at booth H11. EXFO also scheduled a technical presentation for September 24 at 2:20 p.m. on next-generation submarine cable testing.

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