Wavelength Division

Multiplexing

By:
y Gurudatha Pai K

gurudatha@gmail.com

Thursday, April 17, 2008, 6:28:40

Overview

ƒ Introduction

ƒ Popular Multiplexing Techniques

ƒ Optical Networking
ƒ An Analogy
a ogy of
o Multiplexing
utpe g

ƒ SONET and SDH

ƒ WDM

ƒ A Small Note on CWDM and DWDM

2
Introduction

ƒ Enormous bandwidth available in optical fiber.

ƒ Implies that a single optical carrier can be base band

modulated at ~25,000 Gbps, occupying 25,000 GHz
s rro nding 1.55
surrounding 1 55 nm,
nm

ƒ This bit rate is impossible for present-day optical devices

to achieve.
ƒ given that lasers, external modulators, switches or detectors
have bandwidths < 100 GHz.

ƒ So, a single “high-speed” channel takes advantage of an

extremely small portion of the available fiber bandwidth.

3
 Popular Multiplexing Techniques - TDM
Signal A Signal A
ƒ A 100-Gbps channel probably will be a combination of many
M D
l
lower-speed
U d signals,
i l E
L M
ƒ These lower-speed
TI channels are multiplexed UL together in time to
P TI
form a higher-speed
L channel. This is time-division
PL multiplexing
Signal B E E Signal B
(TDM). X X
E E
ƒ R
This can be accomplished in the electrical R
or optical domain, with
each
h lower-speed
l d channel
h l transmitting
t itti a bit/packet
bit/ k t only
l in
i a
Digital Baseband for
given time slot. Transmission
Signal C Signal C
ƒ Generally, Digital or PAM signals are Multiplexed in Time.

ƒ Results in higher bit rate, so corresponding increase in BW

4
Popular Multiplexing Techniques - FDM

ƒ Analog signals,

ƒ A number of Band Limited Base Band Signals frequency

translated and sent over a single Channel

ƒ g
Results in higher BW

5
Optical Networking - An Analogy of
Multiplexing
Packet containing
stuff

Payload Overheads

High Speed Truck

6
Optical Networking – Synchronous
Transmission SONET - SDH

ƒ All Equipments synchronized to the Network Clock.

ƒ ANSI
S defined
f Synchronous
S O
Optical Network (SONET)
(SO ) for
f use in U
S.
ƒ ITU standardized on Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) for
worldwide usage.
ƒ SDH & SONET Traffic Interworking is compatible.
ƒ India uses SDH
ƒ First level of SONET hierarchy is referred to as Synchronous
Transport Signal-1 (STS-1 for an electrical signal)
Or
Optical Carrier-1 (OC-1 for an optical signal)
ƒ STS-1 / OC-1 corresponds
p to a bit rate of 51.84 Mbps.
p
ƒ STS-3 / OC-3 signal corresponds to STM-1 (155.52 Mbps).

7
Advantages / Applications of SDH

ƒ SDH offers higher Transmission rates,

ƒ Offers more efficient Add / Drop / Cross connect functions.

ƒ Incorporates powerful Network Management functions, which are

g, Configuration
Software controllable like Network Planning, g
Management, Fault Management, Performance Management,
Security Management & Accounting Management functions.

ƒ Enables easy identification of link / node failures and centralized

maintenance.

ƒ y of Interfaces to accommodate from other networks

Wide variety
such as ISDN, ATM, LAN, TCP/ IP etc.

ƒ Performs Multiplexing and Line Terminating functions.

ƒ Allows dynamic allocation of bandwidth.

8
 SONET Frame

9 STM-1 frame
STM-1 Frame o
v
155 Mbps e
r
( Synchronous Transport Module-1) 9 h Payload
e
a
ƒ 125 µsec frame d

ƒ 270 x 9 bytes x 64 Kbps = STM 1

270

ƒ Payload floats in SDH frame

Pointer
(envelop). and stuff
ƒ y points to start of
Pointer byte
byte

payload.

ƒ can be dropped and inserted easily

9
 An animation of WDM

Optical Coupler

λ1 λ1

λ2 λ2

λ3 λ3

λ4 λ4

Optic Fiber Cable

Nortel's WDM System

10
Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)

ƒ Technology which multiplexes multiple optical carrier signals

on a single optical Fibre by using different wavelengths (colors)
off laser
l light
li ht tto carry diff
differentt signals.
i l
ƒ This allows for a multiplication in capacity.
ƒ Duplex communications over a strand of Fibre.
ƒ Th true
The t potential
t ti l off optical
ti l Fibre
Fib is i fully
f ll exploited
l it d when
h
multiple beams of light at different frequencies are transmitted o
n the same Fibre.
ƒ This is a form of (FDM) but is commonly called WDM WDM.
ƒ WDM system enables single fiber to carry multiple high speed d
ata streams with carrier frequencies in the order of 200 THz (1
500 nm) to 300 THz (1000 nm).
ƒ By using Fused biconic tapered couplers, multiple wavelength
signals are combined on same fiber.
ƒ Due to fiber attenuation, periodic regeneration was done; Ne
w generation i E Erbium
bi D
Doped d Fib
Fiber AAmplifiers
lifi (EDFA) enable
bl hi
hig
h-speed, long distance repeater less transmission.
11
Wavelength Demultiplexing

ƒ Using an optical filter as illustrated in figure

12
DWDM – Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexin
g

ƒ CWDM – Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing

ƒ Number of Wavelengths:
g 4 / 8 / 16
ƒ Channel Spacing: > 200 GHz (corresponds to 1.6 nm over the
usable spectrum)
ƒ Applications: Cost effective Metro Access & Enterprise netw
orks.
orks
DWDM
ƒ As Laser and Optical Filter Technologies improved, more signa
l wavelengths could be combined on a single fiber
fiber.
ƒ ITU has specified DWDM Band in the 1525 to 1565 nm range
with suitable Channel Spacing .
ƒ g
Number of Wavelengths: 32 / 40 / 80 / 100
ƒ Channel Spacing: 200 / 100 / 50 GHz (corresponding to 1.6 nm
/ 0.8 nm / 0.4 nm over the usable spectrum)
ƒ Applications: High Capacity long haul (multiple sections of 100
KMs) backbone networks etcetc.

13
Thank You