Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM)

Fiber Systems

Brief Overview
Problems

with increasing network demands Solutions proposed & their limitations Evolution of DWDM Technical details Drawbacks Ongoing Research Conclusion

Growing Network Usage Patterns

Issues

Exponential increase in user demand for bandwidth

Doubling

of bandwidth requirement every 6-9 months

Consistency in quality of services provided Keeping the cost of solutions at bay

Solutions

Increase channel capacity: TDM, WDM Statistical multiplexing of users: Multiple optical fibers

Another glimpse at the solutions

TDM

(Time Division Multiplexing)

Slotting of channels simultaneous users Increasing bit rate to maximize utilization of given bandwidth
WDM

(Wavelength Division Multiplexing)

Use of optical fibers to achieve higher speeds Utilize wavelengths to multiplex users Allow continuous channel allocation per user Increases the effective bandwidth of existing fiber

Limitations of current solutions

TDM

Dependency of Mux-Demux on bit rate Limitations on bit rates

how

fast can we go? (Decides how small the time slots can be)

WDM
Inefficient usage of full capacity of the optical fiber Capability of carrying signals efficiently over short distances only

Improvements in optical fibers and narrowband lasers

Birth of Dense WDM (DWDM)

Evolution of DWDM
Late 1990s 1996 DWDM Early 1990s Narrowband WDM

64+ channels 25~50 GHz spacing 16+ channels 100~200 GHz spacing

2~8 channels 200~400 GHz spacing 2 channels 1310nm, 1550nm

1980s Wideband WDM

What is DWDM?

Definition
Dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) is a fiber-optic transmission technique that employs light wavelengths to transmit data parallel-by-bit or serial-by-character

How does DWDM fair better?

No

O-E-O required Protocol & Bit Rate independence Increased overall capacity at much lower cost
Current fiber plant investment can be optimized by a factor of at least 32
Transparency

Physical layer architecture supports both TDM and data formats such as ATM, Gigabit Ethernet, etc.
Scalability

Utilize abundance of dark fibers in metropolitan areas and enterprise networks

Capacity Expansion

Basic Components & Operation

Transmitting Side
Lasers with precise stable wavelengths Optical Multiplexers

On the Link
Optical fiber Optical amplifiers

Receiving Side
Photo detectors Optical Demultiplexers

Optical add/drop multiplexers

Optical Amplifier

Eliminates O-E-O conversions More effective than electronic repeaters Isolator prevents reflection Light at 980nm or 1480nm is injected via the pump laser Gains ~ 30dB; Output Power ~ 17dB

Drawbacks
Dispersion

Chromatic dispersion Polarization mode dispersion

Attenuation

Intrinsic: Scattering, Absorption, etc. Extrinsic: Manufacturing Stress, Environment, etc.

Four

wave mixing

Non-linear nature of refractive index of optical fiber Limits channel capacity of the DWDM System

Ongoing Developments
Nortel

Networks

Metro DWDM OPTera Long Haul 5000 Optical Line System

Cisco

Systems Technologies

ONS 15200 Metro DWDM Solution

Lucent

LambdaXtreme Transport WaveStar OLS 1.6T

Agility

Communications & UC Santa Barbara

Tunable Lasers used for multiple wavelengths

Conclusion
Robust

and simple design Works entirely in the Optical domain Multiplies the capacity of the network many fold Cheap Components Handles the present BW demand cost effectively Maximum utilization of untapped resources Best suited for long-haul networks

References
[1] Introducing DWDM http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/mels/dwdm/dwdm_fns.htm [2] Fundamentals of DWDM Technology http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/mels/dwdm/dwdm_ovr.htm [3] Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) http://www.iec.org/online/tutorials/dwdm [4] Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) Testing http://www.iec.org/online/tutorials/dwdm_test [5] Fiber-Optic Communications Technology by D.K. Mynbaev, L.L. Scheiner, Pearson Education Asia, 2001 edition [6] Dense wave nets' future is cloudy by Chappell Brown, EETimes http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20011221S0035 [7] Cisco Systems http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/optical/ps1996/products_quick_reference_gui de09186a00800886bb.html [8] Lucent Technologies http://www.lucent.com/products/subcategory/0,,CTID+2021-STID+10482LOCL+1,00.html [9] Nortel Networks: OPTera Long Haul & Metro DWDM (http://www.nortelnetworks.com/products/01/optera/long_haul/dwdm/) & (http://www.nortelnetworks.com/products/library/collateral/12001.25-03-02.pdf) [10] Agility Communications http://agility.com/intervals/index.phtml?ID=93&f_code=1