Fiber Systems
Dense Wavelength Division
Multiplexing (DWDM)
Alpina Kulkarni
Optical Communications (EE566)
Dr. Paolo Liu
Electrical Engineering @ UB
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
64+ channels
Late 25~50 GHz spacing
1990’s
1996
16+ channels
DWDM 100~200 GHz spacing
Early
2~8 channels
1990’s 200~400 GHz spacing
Narrowband WDM
1980’s 2 channels
Wideband WDM 1310nm, 1550nm
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
ONS 15200 Metro DWDM Solution
► Lucent Technologies
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+10482-
LOCL+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
