5. Conclusion

Optical fibers are characterized by numerous parameters that have a direct influence on transmission system performance. Some of these are intrinsic to the fiber, while others depend on operating conditions and the components used in the network. Measurement methods have been presented in this article and their principles are now relatively stabilized, although there are many variations in implementation between different manufacturers of measurement equipment and systems. Progress continues to be made in terms of use (portability, power consumption, automation) and software for processing results. These make measurements increasingly easy to interpret and store for maintenance purposes, but the user still needs to have a clear understanding of the measurement principle, starting with the exact physical meaning of the parameters to be measured.

As we have seen throughout...