WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing)

What is WDM? Basics of our CWDM & DWDM system

The IT refers to a medium where information is transmitted via a link. If two locations want to
communicate with each other, one link is sufficient. To connect more locations more links are
required What if only one link e.g. between two cities is available, but more applications shall be
connected? Using the WDM technology, fiber optic links can be utilized for data transmission
more efficiently.

WDM basics

The idea of xWDM technology

Each application is allocated to a dedicated color (wavelength) to communicate with a remote

station. The advantage is that different colors can be simultaneously transmitted using one pair
of fiber. For this purpose a multiplexer combines all different colors which will then be
transmitted to the remote station over one pair of fiber. At the remote site the combined signal is
separated again into different colors by a demultiplexer. Generally only one light beam with one
wavelength is transferred over a pair of fiber. The wavelength multiplexing technology provides
the ability to transmit more light beams, each having different wavelengths, using the same
optical link. Due to the fact that wavelengths do not interfere, single light beams can be
separated from each other using simple filters. A laser serves as the source of light and light-
sensitive diode as receiver unit. Wavelength multiplexing is differentiated in CWDM (Coarse
Wavelength Division Multiplexing) and DWDM (Dense Wavelength
Division Multiplexing) technology. Advantage: With the use of WDM, it is possible to transfer
nearly 1 Tbps (C-band) via one pair of fiber today.

Choosing of the appropriate wavelength

By the use of appropriate transceivers (SFP, XFP etc.) with different power budget ranges from a
few 100 m up to 160 km can be achieved. A major factor in the range is next to the power
budget of the transceiver the used wavelength as a fiber has a specific attenuation behaviour
for each wavelength. The higher the attenuation, the lower the overall distance. With a careful
selection of the wavelength a higher range and better signal quality can be achieved.

Loss
Optical bands

CWDM (Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing)

CWDM definition:
Up to 18 different CWDM wavelength over one pair of fiber

CWDM highlights

Up to 18 CWDM wavelength over one pair of fiber

CWDM channel spacing 20 nm, 1270 nm to 1610 nm

Distances up to 120 km

Cost-effective WDM solution

Scalable by hybrid CWDM/DWDM - perfect solution for your investment

CWDM principle
Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) is a wavelength multiplexing technology
for city and access networks. Transmission is realized using 18 channels with wavelengths
between 1270 nm and 1610 nm. Due to the channel spacing of 20 nm cost-effective lasers can
be used. The channel width itself is 13 nm. The remaining 7 nm is designed to secure the space
to the next channel.

Technical Details

ITU-T G.694.2

: 1271 nm - 1611 nm

Max. 18 channels can be used due to the waterpeaks

Channel spacing: 20 nm

DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing)

DWDM definition:
Up to 96 DWDM wavelength over one pair of fiber
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)

CWDM/DWDM Integration
CWDM/DWDM integration an easy-to-realize expansion of existing CWDM
systems

The difference between CWDM and DWDM lies in the channel spacing between
neighbored wavelengths, for CWDM 20 nm and for DWDM 0.8/0.4 nm (using 100
GHz/50 GHz grid). Pan Dacom Direkt utilizes this advantage for an efficient
CWDM/DWDM integration. Thereby up to sixteen DWDM channels are transmitted
simultaneously in only one CWDM channel (1530 nm and 1550 nm). Thus an easy-to-
realize channel extension can be achieved under continued use of existing CWDM
components and thereby guarantuees a protection of investment.

.
EDFA- and RAMAN-amplifiers
Amplifier (Booster), to increase the output power at the beginning of the link

Pre-Amplifier (PreAmp), high input sensitivity. Increasing the power level at the end of the
transmission line according to receiver sensitivity

Inline-Amplifier, to compensate the attenuation of the link

RAMAN-Amplifier, increasing the power level, at the end of the link by use of Raman
scattering. Amplification is achieved with improved OSNR behavior and reduction of nonlinear
impairments

EDFA (Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier) principle

EDFAs use a pump laser (980 nm or 1480 nm) to bring up electrons to a higher energy level. If
signal amplification is achieved by emitted photons of the same signal wavelength with the help
of stimulated emission.

EDFA principle
Wavelength: C-Band and L-Band
Amplification 20 - 40 dB
Output power: 14 - 23 dBm

RAMAN-amplifier principle

A Raman amplifier uses the effect of Raman scattering. For this purpose, light with high power
and a corresponding wavelength is pumped into the fiber. Amplification is performed if the
incoming wavelength lies within the Raman gain spectrum.

RAMAN-Amplifier principle

Wavelength area: 1300 - 1600 nm

Amplification: 10 - 15 dB

Physical phenomena of optical transmission media

Intermodal dispersion

With a correspondingly large cross section, a signal is reflected between the core and the
cladding of the fiber. The group velocity of light propagating in a multimode fiber depends also on
the propagation of different modes (Differential Mode Delay). This leads to a broadening of the
signal.

Polarization mode dispersion

Optical fiber shows the effect of birefringent, caused by external influences such as bending,
torsion, as well as inhomogeneity of the core. This results in different propagation velocities for
the two orthogonal polarization states (Differential Group Delay) and therefore in a pulse
broadening. A reduction of this effect can be achieved, as far as possible, by an exact geometry
of the fiber. External influences are minimized by careful handling during installation of the fiber.

Four-wave-mixing

It can occur that three different frequency components propagate together in a an optical fiber,
creating a fourth frequency component. Similar to cross-talk - these four different frequency
components interact via four-wave mixing with neighboured ones. This effect is reduced in case
of non-zero chromatic dispersion of the fiber. If all four different components A degenerate four-
wave mixing occours, where the frequencies coincide.

Chromatic dispersion

The chromatic dispersion describes the phenomenon when the group velocity of light propagating
in a fiber depends on the optical frequency. The resulting differential group delay between
different frequency components lead to a distortion of the received signal and a limitation of
distances in a DWDM network. This effect is well handled by various methods.

Chromatic dispersion and use of fiber-bragg-gratings for compensation

Chromatic dispersion can be compensated by various techniques, e.g. by the use of an fiber-
bragg-grating. In principle a fiber-bragg-grating chance its refractive index with penetration
depth of light. An incoming pulse that is broadened, the different spectral components travels on
different paths within the grating.
The resulting time delay results in a narrowing of the pulse and thus to a compensation of the
chromatic

Optical amplifier(EDFA)
In DWDM system, post amplifier is used at the transmitter to boost the signal
while pre-amplifier is used to boost the signals at the receiver side. EDFA is used
as in-line amplifier before signal gets completely degraded. EDFA is mainly used
to boost the signal in the 1530nm to 1570nm spectrum region.