Go!Foton has launched EKO, an intelligent optical patch panel system designed to provide real-time monitoring and management of optical transport networks without signal disruption.
Dr David Chen, CTO of Go!Foton introduced the technology to our very own Mark Elliott at OFC 2026, describing it as a networking primitive that addresses port management and optical network monitoring across entire networks. Chen, who has nearly 10 years at Go!Foton and previously worked at Verizon, said the system captures noise rather than signal.
"That tap doesn't tap the signal, rather it taps the noise, just like a doctor putting a cuff on your arm to feel your pulse with no disruption," Chen explained. The system converts thermal noise into usable power bidirectionally while using hardware to collect data and transfer it to upper-layer trap servers.
SNMP v3 protocol for secure data transfer
The EKO system uses SNMP version 3, a secure network protocol, combined with TCP/IP for network and data manipulation. Chen said the technology has been deployed in live networks with reliable results.
"Nobody in the industry has done ODN monitoring to this extent. Everybody knows the transmitter, receiver equipment, all those companies doing transceiver monitoring. But, just like you can design very beautiful cars, once you hit the road and encounter a pothole, you don't know what happens. We can tell you every single bit and piece of the network," Chen said.
Go!Foton plans to integrate the application into user interfaces accessible via intranet for security purposes, allowing network operators to visualise specific network sections in real time. Chen said the technology supports AI integration into optical network monitoring.
Watch the video interview
