Wavelength-division multiplexing

In fiber-optic communications, wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM)

is a technology which multiplexes a number of optical carrier signals onto a
single optical fiber by using different wavelengths (i.e., colors) of laser light.

The term wavelength-division multiplexing is commonly applied to an optical

carrier, which is typically described by its wavelength, whereas frequency-
division multiplexing typically applies to a radio carrier which is more often
described by frequency. This is purely convention because wavelength and
frequency communicate the same information.

A WDM system uses a multiplexer at the transmitter to join the several

signals together and demultiplexer at the receiver to split them apart.

The concept was first published in 1978. The first WDM systems combined
only two signals. Modern systems can handle 160 signals and can thus
expand a basic 100 Gbit/s to over 16 Tbit/s over a single fiber pair.

Most WDM systems operate on single-mode fiber optical cables, which have
a core diameter of 9 m. Certain forms of WDM can also be used in multi-
mode fiber cables (also known as premises cables) which have core
diameters of 50 or 62.5 m.

Early WDM systems were expensive and complicated to run. However, recent
standardization and better understanding of the dynamics of WDM systems have
made WDM less expensive to deploy.
WDM systems are divided into three different wavelength patterns.

Normal (WDM)

Course (CWDM)

Dense (DWDM)

Normal WDM (sometimes called BWDM) uses the two normal wavelengths
1310 nm and 1550 nm on one fiber.

Coarse WDM provides up to 16 channels across multiple transmission

windows of silica fibers.

Dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) uses the C-Band (1530 nm-
1565 nm) transmission window but with denser channel spacing. Channel
plans vary, but a typical DWDM system would use 40 channels at 100 GHz
spacing or 80 channels with 50 GHz spacing.

Some technologies are capable of 12.5 GHz spacing (sometimes called ultra
dense WDM). New amplification options (Raman amplification) enable the
extension of the usable wavelengths to the L-band (1565 nm-1625 nm),
more or less doubling these numbers.

WDM, DWDM and CWDM are based on the same concept of using multiple
wavelengths of light on a single fiber, but differ in the spacing of the
wavelengths, number of channels, and the ability to amplify the multiplexed
signals in the optical space.

EDFA (erbium doped fiber amplifiers) provide efficient wideband amplification

for the C-band, Raman amplification adds a mechanism for amplification in
the L-band. For CWDM, wideband optical amplification is not available,
limiting the optical spans to several tens of kilometers.

15251565 nm (C band), or 15701610 nm (L band)

DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing)

DWDM highlights

Up to 96 DWDM wavelength over one pair of fiber

DWDM channel spacing 0.8 nm (100 GHz grid) or 0.4 nm (50 GHz grid)

Distances over 1,000 km can be achieved with the use of optical amplifier.

DWDM wavelength: 1528 nm (channel 61) to 1563 nm (channel 17)

DWDM principle

The functionality of DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) resembles to the one
of CWDM. The DWDM channel spacing is 0.8/0.4 nm (100 GHz/50 GHz grid). This small channel
spacing allows to transmit simultaneously more information. Currently a restriction on
wavelengths between 1530 nm and 1625 nm exists which corresponds to the C and L band.
DWDM wavelengths are more expensive compared to CWDM caused by the need of more
sophisticated transceivers.
Theoretically available DWDM channels in the C and L-band depending on the channel
spacing

Technical Details:

ITU-T G.694.1

C-Band : 1530 nm - 1565 nm

max. 360 channels (12,5 GHz Grid)

L-Band : 1565 nm - 1625 nm

max. 560 channels (12,5 GHz Grid)