What is DWDM?

DWDM represents Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing. It is a technology in which several optical signals (laser light) of multiple wavelengths or colors are combined into one signal and are sent over the connecting channel to a lengthy area.

When the optical signal transmission distance changes into thousands of kilometers, it results in loss of few signals. It can fascinate this signal loss, optical fibre amplifiers are used in the DWDM transmission system.

The DWDM technology needed this gain bandwidth to share various optical signals together efficiently. DWDM can address up to 80 channels (80 optical signals) with 100 GHz (0.8 nm) spacing.

Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) is an optical multiplexing technology that can enhance bandwidth over current fibre networks. DWDM task operates by joining and transmitting several signals concurrently at multiple wavelengths on the same fibre. The technology generates several virtual fibres, therefore magnifying the capacity of the physical channel.

DWDM is treated as one of the best technologies to increase bandwidth over a current fibre plant. It allows one to generate several “virtual fibres” over one physical fibre. It does this by transmitting several wavelengths (or colors) of light down a bit of fibre.

DWDM was originally adopted by high distance carriers because the spending in amplification, dispersion compensation, and regeneration collected most of the network supplied cost in regional and national SONET networks. DWDM became increasingly famous in metro networks when the local exchange carriers produced their networks.

Advantages of DWDM

The advantages of DWDM are as follows −

• DWDM can leverage the abundance of dark fibre in many metropolitan areas and enterprise networks to quickly meet the demand for capacity on point-to-point links and spans of existing SONET/SDH rings.

• It is fast, simple, and dynamic provisioning of network connections that give providers the ability to provide high-bandwidth services in days rather than months.

• DWDM is used to delete a whole class of equipment, the SONET ADMs. This change, which can constitute a second stage of SONET migration, enables routers and several devices to bypass SONET equipment and interface directly to DWDM while clarifying traffic from IP/ATM/SONET to POS to ultimately IP directly over the optical layer.

• DWDM can expand capacity and can serve as backup bandwidth without a need to install new fibres, thus it is ready-made for long-distance telecommunication services.

• DWDM can be used in various networks like Sensor Networks, Remote Radar Networks, Tele-spectroscopic process control networks, etc.