Certified Optical Network Associate (CONA)

CONA is a foundational course in optical networking, covering both fiber infrastructure and transmission systems built on direct detection technology. Direct detection systems can deliver very high capacities—up to 1.6 Tb/s—in data center environments. They are also widely used for data center interconnects at 100 Gb/s and 400 Gb/s, as well as in a broad range of applications including local area networks, campus backbones, fiber-to-the-antenna links, 5G fronthaul, point-to-point FTTH, full-fiber business services, transport networks, and utility networks. In long-haul applications, advanced direct detection systems can transmit over 800 Gb/s across thousands of kilometers.

Participants enrolled in CONA will gain a solid understanding of optical networking fundamentals, including how light propagates through optical fiber, key aspects of fiber infrastructure, and an overview of commercially deployed transmission systems. Trainees will develop the skills needed to design and plan high-speed optical point-to-point links and networks that are both efficient and cost-effective, capable of meeting current and future capacity requirements.

Delegates will also learn the critical factors that influence network performance, including fiber type, attenuation, reflections, chromatic dispersion, and polarization mode dispersion (PMD). The course covers practical methods for mitigating impairments and ensuring that the networks they design deliver reliable, high-quality performance.