K. J.

Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai-77

Optical Fiber Communication (116U03C603)

TY-EXTC 2023-2024

Case Study on Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM),

Add/Drop Mux (OADM) and its applications
Under the guidance of

Prof. Dipak Kulkarni

Batch –A2

Group details

16010320028 Soham Karle

16010320033 Atharva Kotkar

16010320032 Soham Khadke

16010320036 Karan Kumar

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 K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai-77
Introduction:
The need for efficient communication networks has become increasingly important as more
users rely on data networks for various applications, such as browsing the internet, video
conferencing, and voice over internet. However, traditional communication networks face
several limitations, such as low capacity, slow speeds, signal losses, distortion, and power
limitations. To counter these challenges, fiber optic technology has emerged as a promising
solution. Fiber optic technology offers several advantages, including high capacity, huge
bandwidth, low signal losses, and small space requirements. One such technology is
wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), which allows the transmission of numerous
signals with different wavelengths in parallel on a single optical fiber. To effectively use this
technology, different multiplexing techniques have been employed, such as optical add-drop
multiplexers (OADM) and optical multiplexers. This case study aims to explore the
implementation of WDM and its associated technologies in a communication network to
increase its overall capacity and efficiency. The study will cover prior research on the topic,
the proposal itself, a comparison, conclusion, and discussion, and two experiments to test the
effectiveness of the system.

Description:
The field of Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) technology and its applications in
optical communication networks is a rapidly evolving area with numerous challenges and
opportunities. The paper "WDM Optical Communication Networks: Progress and
Challenges" provides a comprehensive overview of the progress in this field, as well as the
challenges that still need to be addressed.

Similarly, the paper "Evaluation of OADM Network: Simulation and an Overview Based on
Metropolitan Applications" evaluates the effectiveness of add-drop multiplexers (OADM) in
handling wavelength coexistence within a fiber and stage-by-stage wavelength selection. The
low-loss, low-cost passive systems of OADM enable a stable network with very little
electricity consumption. The paper also highlights the importance of simulation in evaluating
and optimizing such networks for metropolitan applications.

Lastly, the paper "WDM Optical Backbone Networks in Aircraft Applications: Networking
Challenges and Standards Progress" discusses the benefits of introducing optical networks in
applications on-board aircraft and shipboard platforms. The use of WDM LANs can take
advantage of past component development by leveraging optical technologies currently used

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 K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai-77
in telecommunications networks to design and implement compact, lightweight networking
platforms. However, one of the key challenges is developing integrated and miniaturized
optoelectronic components within optical systems that can perform in and survive the harsh
environments encountered on aircraft platforms.

Combining the insights from these papers, it is evident that WDM technology is an important
and promising area for improving communication networks. The use of OADM can provide a
stable and low-cost solution for handling wavelength coexistence within fibers. Furthermore,
the deployment of WDM systems in aircraft and shipboard platforms can significantly
improve the design and operation of information exchange networks. However, the
development of miniaturized and integrated optoelectronic components that can survive harsh
environments on such platforms remains a key challenge.

WDM: Wavelength Division

Multiplexing (WDM) is a tech that
boosts fiber-optic transmission
capacity by injecting and
extracting multiple data channels
at different locations using add-
drop multiplexers based on
wavelengths. Modern WDM
handles up to 160 signals,
From [4]
expanding a basic 10 Gbit/s
system to over 1.6 Tbit/s, ideal for telecoms to expand their network capacity without more
fiber. WDM allows multiple communication channels on a single fiber by carving up the
optical spectrum into non-overlapping wavelength bands, enabling bidirectional
communication and capacity multiplication. WDM operates at electronic rates by exploiting
opto-electronic bandwidth mismatch and using the right fiber to act as an optical add-drop
multiplexer.
From [4]

OADM: (Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer) can selectively

add or remove one or more optical channels from a multi-
channel WDM signal and redirect them to another
network path without affecting the remaining channels. It
enables flexible configuration and high capacity in

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 K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai-77
optical communication networks. OADM is commonly used in WDM ring systems and long-
haul transmission systems. It enables the processing of signals in optical form, thereby
reducing the cost of optical-to-electrical conversion. OADM helps to simplify the component
configuration of optical amplifiers and decrease the total cost of networks. It plays a key role
in producing compact, monolithic, and cost-effective optical communication devices.

Comparative Analysis:

The three papers, "WDM Optical Communication Networks: Progress and Challenges",
"Evaluation of OADM Network: Simulation and an Overview Based on Metropolitan
Applications", and "WDM Optical Backbone Networks in Aircraft Applications: Networking
Challenges and Standards Progress", all discuss different aspects of optical communication
networks, specifically Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) and Optical Add-Drop
Multiplexer (OADM) networks.

The first paper provides an overview of the progress and challenges associated with WDM
networks. It discusses the benefits of WDM over traditional copper-based networks, as well
as challenges such as dispersion, nonlinear effects, and signal impairments. The second paper
evaluates OADM networks using simulations and an overview based on metropolitan
applications. It compares the performance of different OADM configurations and proposes
solutions to optimize their performance. The third paper focuses specifically on WDM optical
backbone networks in aircraft applications and discusses the networking challenges and
standards progress associated with such networks.

While each paper focuses on different aspects of optical communication networks, they share
a common theme of addressing challenges associated with implementing WDM and OADM
technologies. The first and third papers discuss the networking challenges associated with
WDM networks in general and in the specific context of aircraft applications, respectively.
The second paper evaluates the performance of OADM networks and proposes solutions to
optimize their performance.

Overall, the papers provide valuable insights into the progress, challenges, and solutions
associated with WDM and OADM networks. They are relevant for network designers,
operators, and researchers involved in the design, deployment, and management of optical
communication networks.

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 K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai-77
Results:
The design layout includes a bitrate of 40Gbps, sample rate of 64×1010 Hz, sample length of
64bit, and 256 samples per bit, with 16384 total samples. There are four frequencies ranging
from 193.1THz to 193.4THz. The system consists of four stages: optical transmitter, optical
link, ADM system, and optical receiver. The optical transmitter has two WDM transmitters,
each producing four channels, with input power of 8dBm, frequency of 193.1THz, and
modulation type set to NRZ. The transmission link uses three spans of Solitons fiber, each
200km long, with a total length of 600km. The Erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) is used
for optical amplification. Finally, the system includes twelve photodiodes with properties
including responsivity of 1A/W and twelve low pass Bessel filters with a cutoff frequency of
7.5×109Hz.The paper discusses the adoption of low-cost upgrades to the current optical
infrastructure, eliminating the need for optical-to-electrical-to-optical conversions and instead
using optical-optical-optical conversions. The paper proposes an OADM-based metro
network with four channels and a total bandwidth of 1.6Tb/s, using NRZ and RZ coding
types. Two experiment setups are presented, and the results are analyzed using different
parameters.

In the first experiment setup, the average output power, drop power, and add power are -
17.997dBm, -17.997dBm, and -18.338dBm, respectively. The average gain is -0.0429dB, and
the average noise figure is 0dB. The average power input signal is 10.679dBm, and the
average power output signal is 10.633dBm. The average output OSNR is 0dB. In the second
experiment setup, the average output power, drop power, and add power are -24.238dBm, -
24.288dBm, and -24.753dBm, respectively. The average gain is -0.0417dB, and the average
noise figure is 0dB. The average power input signal is 7.691dBm, and the average power
output signal is 7.677dBm. The average output OSNR is 0dB.

The paper suggests using EDFA with soliton fibers to overcome the GVD and SPM
phenomena, and the system supports four input channels, four add channels, four output
channels, and four drop channels. The results are acceptable after three spans of soliton fiber,
with a total length of 600km and 200km for each span.

Applications:
The application described in the paper[3] aims to evaluate the potential weight savings of
replacing a copper-based avionics network with an optical backbone network (OBN). The
authors use a generic aircraft network architecture as a baseline and compare the weights of

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 K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai-77
copper and fiber networks using equations that take into account the number of subsystems,
distances between locations, and the length of interconnections. The authors show that the
weight savings of using an OBN can be significant, and inflection points in bandwidth can be
identified where OBN becomes a more attractive option. The authors propose the
development of optical network standards to enable the introduction of high-capacity, flexible
networking infrastructure aboard aircraft, and the creation of a new cable plant that can take
advantage of novel infrastructure network architectures. Overall, the application highlights
the potential benefits of using OBN in avionics networks, including weight savings, improved
performance, and reduced costs.
From [3]

SAE International is developing

a set of WDM LAN standards
to create high bandwidth,
flexible, and future-proof
networking using optical
networks. The objective of the
ASD AS-3 WDM LAN
working group is to develop a
standard that can be applied to
both commercial and military
aircraft. Additionally, they plan
to improve the cable plant and
develop optical devices and technology that can reduce overall system weight and cost.
Successful development of optical network standards will enable the introduction of high-
capacity, flexible networking infrastructure aboard military and commercial aircraft.

From [3]
From [3]

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 K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai-77
Conclusion:
After conducting an extensive review of three papers on wavelength division multiplexing
(WDM) optical communication networks, it can be concluded that WDM networks have
made significant progress over the years. However, challenges remain in terms of
implementation and standards. The paper "WDM Optical Communication Networks:
Progress and Challenges" shows that WDM networks have made significant strides in terms
of increasing capacity and speed. However, the challenges faced by researchers and engineers
in this field are still considerable, particularly in developing effective modulation techniques
and dealing with signal impairments. In "Evaluation of OADM Network: Simulation and an
Overview Based on Metropolitan Applications," it was found that optical add-drop
multiplexer (OADM) networks are effective in metropolitan areas, but the overall efficiency
of these networks depends on factors such as the distance between nodes and the type of
modulation used. Finally, "WDM Optical Backbone Networks in Aircraft Applications:
Networking Challenges and Standards Progress" highlighted the challenges and progress in
implementing WDM optical backbone networks in aircraft applications. Networking
standards continue to be a significant challenge, but advancements are being made.

Overall, these papers provide valuable insights into the progress and challenges of WDM
optical communication networks. By understanding these challenges, researchers and can
work towards developing effective solutions that can overcome these obstacles and make
WDM networks more efficient and widespread in various applications.

References:
[1]Mukherjee, B. (2000). WDM optical communication networks: progress and
challenges. IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in communications, 18(10), 1810-1824.

[2]Essa, E. I., Asker, M. A., & Sedeeq, F. T. (2021). Evaluating OADM network simulation
and an overview based metropolitan application. IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in
communications 31(1), 27-39.

[3]Habiby, Sarry F., and Ravi Vaidyanathan. "WDM optical backbone networks in aircraft
applications: Networking challenges and standards progress." In MILCOM 2009-2009 IEEE
Military Communications Conference, pp. 1-6. IEEE, 2009.

[4]Sletteng, R., & Asa, N. E. (2002). Wavelength Division Multiplexing-An

Overview. Network Electronics RSA, Website: http://www. Broadcastpapers. Com.

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