ISSN XXXX XXXX © 2018 IJESC

Research Article Volume 8 Issue No.12

Review Paper on DWDM Technology

Pravesh Kumar Chaudhary1, Ravi Kumar2, Sumit Kaushik3
Senior Technical Officer, ECIL Hyderabad, India1
Scientist, CERT-In, Delhi, India2
Network Engineer, Bharti Airtel Ltd., Gurgaon, India 3

Abstract:
In this paper optical technologies such as Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) has been studied which is used to provide
high-capacity point-to-point light paths consisting of a wavelength channel carried over a succession of fibers applications DWDM
system and the need of this system is discussed along with the operation of each component. As well as studied about optical
ROADM scheme for routing of an individual sub channel within an all-optical OFDM superchannel. The different functions
required of optical node were demonstrated using interferometric technique with the extraction, drop, and addition of individual
subchannels in a ten subchannels optically aggregated signal and Coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) is a method
of combining multiple signals on laser beams at various wavelengths for transmission along fiber optic cables, such that the
number of channels is fewer than in dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) but more than in standard wavelength
division multiplexing (WDM). The objective of this paper is to summarize the basic optical networking approaches, including
wavelength allocation scheme in optical networks. Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) is an optical multiplexing
technology which is used to increase the bandwidth of existing optical networks. The main principle on which it works is
transmitting multiple signals of various wavelengths at the same time on the same optical fiber. From both technical and economic
perspectives, the ability to provide potentially unlimited transmission capacity is the most obvious advantage of DWDM
technology. Bandwidth aside, DWDM’s most compelling technical advantages can be summarized as follows:
• Transparency—Because DWDM is physical layer architecture, it can transparently support both TDM and data formats such as
ATM, Gigabit Ethernet, ESCON, and Fibre Channel with open interfaces over a common physical layer.
• Scalability—DWDM can leverage the abundance of dark fiber in many metropolitan area and enterprise networks to quickly
meet demand for capacity on point-to-point links and on spans of existing SONET/SDH rings.
• Dynamic provisioning—Fast, simple, and dynamic provisioning of network connections give providers the ability to provide
high-bandwidth services in days rather than months

Keywords —Optical fiber communication, Rayleigh backscattering, wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM), self-phase
modulation SPM, and cross-phase modulation CPM, Coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) Reconfigurable optical
add/drop multiplexers (ROADMs) .

I. INTRODUCTION same length of copper. The optical fiber can carry more
In today’s networks, optical technologies such as Wavelength communications signals than the large copper cable in the
Division Multiplexing (WDM) are used to provide high- background and over much longer distances. The demand for
capacity point-to-point light paths consisting of a wavelength bandwidth has been increasing significantly; the network
channel carried over a succession of fibers. The scope of optical capacity has also increased and applications like Video
network based services is increasing and it provides better applications (video download, video telephony), IP telephony,
results compared to the traditional networks like circuit Multimedia applications and remote employment are the main
switching and packet switching policies. By using optical fibers drivers for this increased demand. Wavelength Division
the nature of transmitting data is high and fast when compare to multiplexing an enabling technology for high-speed backbone
the above traditional approaches using copper cables, twisted networks are used in optical networks. The optical connection
pairs as a communication medium. In the optical networks the between the nodes in a network is called as light paths. A light
data is converted into the bits of light called photons and then path is established before the communication between the
transmitted over fibers which are faster than the traditional wavelength routers. To establish a light path the same
networks in which the data is converted into the electrons that wavelength channel should be allocated on all the links along
travel through the copper cable. The data transmission using the route. The set of established light paths are called as virtual
optical fiber is fast because photons weigh is less when compare topology and it is used to route the higher layer traffic. So, these
to the weight of electrons. And further, unlike electrons, photons light paths need to be set up dynamically by determining a route
do not affect one another when they move in a fiber because across the network connecting the source to the destination, and
they have no electric charge and they are not affected by stray allocating a free wavelength channel on each fiber link along the
photons outside the fiber. Light has higher frequencies and chosen route.
hence shorter wavelengths, and therefore more ―bits‖ of The WDM technology transmits many signals concurrently on
transmission can be contained in a length of fiber versus the an optical fiber using wavelength routing a network switching

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node routes signals based on their wavelengths. In the near Fiber manufacturing and composition sometimes give rise to
future we will likely see optical networks being widely deployed defects known as manufacturing defects which when employed
in bid to benefit from its several important advantages, including in WDM system can lead to serious losses in the system.
an increased usable bandwidth on optical fiber, reduced
electronic processing cost, protocol transparency and efficient II. LITERATURE SURVEY
network component (node/link) failure handling. A WDM
Optical network consists of a set of nodes and optical fiber links Suresh K et.al [1] this paper presented a brief survey about the
such that an optical fiber link connects a pair of nodes. A pair of existing approaches in the Routing and Wavelength Assignment
network nodes communicate by exchanging messages over a (RWA) using Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) and
connection path (or simply path), through a set of optical fiber optical cross connect switches which also provides solutions for
links. An optical fiber supports a fixed number of wavelengths. the security threats in the physical layer of optical fiber
Wavelength routing is used to establish a path, in turn the path is networks. Optical networks play an important role in
allocated a wavelength. A message to be sent from one node to information communication supporting both small-scale and
another is referred to as a connection request (or simply a large-scale networks through its capacity of seamless
request). In WDM optical networks a request is satisfied by transmission of massive volume of data within a short time
establishing a path between communicating nodes and period. Routing in the optical networks needs to be dynamic as
allocating a wavelength to the path. Since an optical fiber the wavelengths and its parameters are changing frequently.
supports a fixed number of wavelengths, it is possible that a Based on the analysis carried out over the existing solutions we
wavelength may not be available to satisfy a given request, in are proposing an equalized wavelength or power distribution
which case it is blocked. Transmission for a blocked request is using Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM), optical cross
deferred to the future when a wavelength is made available connect equalization at the network nodes and power
through a previously allocated connection request completing its equalization placement in order to prevent jamming attacks and
transmission. reducing LAR with minimum cost.

A powerful aspect of an optical fiber communication link is that [2] Proposed and experimentally demonstrate a novel colorless
many different wavelengths carrying independent signal full-duplex passive optical network (PON) access architecture
channels can be sent along a single fiber simultaneously. In optical networks (WDM-PONs), in which the mitigation of
particular, telecommunication service providers are using this optical. Utilizing orthogonal codes and correlation receiving
feature in the low-loss 1300-to-1600-nm spectral region of methods optical beat interference (OBI) noise caused by
optical fibers. The technology of combining a number of Rayleigh backscatter., the novel PON can mitigate the optical
wavelengths onto the same fiber is known as wavelength beat interference (OBI) (RB) are critical technologies [1]–[4].
division multiplexing or WDM [1]. Conceptually, the WDM RB can be regarded as noise induced by Rayleigh backscattering
scheme is the same as frequency-division multiplexing FDM (RB). A pair of electrical distributed reflections over the fiber
used in microwave radio and satellite systems. Just as in FDM, and RB noise can interfere orthogonal codes is generated and
the various wavelength channels or optical frequencies in WDM modulated at the same wave- with the upstream (US) light to
must be properly spaced to avoid inter channel interference. impair the uplink performance length in the optical line terminal
Since installing an optical fiber cable plant is both expensive (OLT). Then, modulated optical signals are transmitted from the
and extremely time consuming, expanding the capacity of an OLT to the optical network units [5], [6]. Characteristics of RB
installed network is economically attractive. Traditionally, noise in the next-generation PON (ONUs). One of the codes is
carriers upgraded their link capacity by increasing the for downstream signal coding, and the (NG-PON) have been
transmission rate. This worked well initially, with speeds investigated [7]. The backscattering close- other is used as the
eventually reaching [2]. However, when going to the next upstream seed. In the ONU, the upstream sig- in noise spectrum
multiplexing level of 10 GB/s, one starts to encounter effects concentrates on low frequency from 5 to nil is remodulated
that can seriously degrade WDM network performance. Among without erasing the downstream signal. Neither 300 MHz and
these effects are [3]: broadens with light line width, launch power, and extra
centralized continuous wave (CW) light sources nor gain- fiber
 Fiber chromatic dispersion, which limits the bit rate by length [8], [9]. Saturated reflective semiconductor optical
temporally spreading a transmitted optical pulse amplifier is required. By using these orthogonal codes, the
 Polarization mode dispersion, which arises from orthogonal spectral overlap between up- The colorless ONU can be mainly
polarization modes traveling at slightly different speeds realized by two kinds of stream signal and downstream signal in
owing to fiber birefringence the full-duplex system is methods. Some methods use an extra
 Non uniform gain across the desired wavelength range in centralized continuous reduced, which can mitigate the OBI
erbium-doped fiber amplifiers EDFAs noise significantly. The wave (CW) light source from the optical
 Inelastic scattering processes such as stimulated Raman line terminal (OLT) as performance of transmission and power
scattering SRS and SBS, which are interactions between margin is investigated through the seed of US data, but it will
optical signals and molecular or acoustic vibrations in a increase the cost and introduce the experiments with different
fiber transmission distances. The remodulated upstream signals are
 Nonlinear processes in a fiber that arise from modulation of recovered by correlation algorithm in the OLT In other methods,
the refractive index of silica by intensity changes in the the downstream (DS) By correlation algorithm, we can get
signal, thereby producing effects such as FWM, self-phase coding gain, which light is used as the seed of US remodulation
modulation SPM , and cross-phase modulation CPM [4] after erasing the DS is important in long-reach transmissions.

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Because of coding gain signal by using gain-saturated reflective superchannel in a fully optical structure, allowing the insertion
semiconductor optical and the OBI noise mitigation, a link displays the optical spectrum for the input superchannel that was
power margin of 4−10 dB can amplifier (RSOA). Then, the US a new set of data. The scheme demonstrated here operates
data is remodulated at the be achieved for 5 Gb/s downstream channel drop and the resulting superchannel with the new
and 1.25 Gb/s upstream, when same wavelength of DS by channel- for both single and dual quadrature formats, and clearly
RSOA [2]. The RSOA with the transmission distance is from 20
scales channeling added. With the assistance of the second
to 70 km.
stabilization circuit, to multi-terabit/s superchannels through the
E. Kavitha et. al [3] this paper investigates the problem of use of additional the channel suppression was maintained higher
dynamic wave length allocation and fairness control in WDM than 10 dB as sub-channels, and opens the way for guard band-
optical networks. A frame network topology, with a two-hop free all-optical the dither based feedback loop, based on the
path network, is studied for three classes of traffic. Each class suppression of the flexible transport.
corresponds to a source and destination pair. For each class call-
inter arrival and holding times are studied. The objective is to
determine a wavelength allocation policy to maximize the
weighted sum of users of all the three classes. This method is
able to provide differentiated services and fairness control in the
network. The problem can be formulated using markov decision
process to find the optimal allocation policy.

Figure 2: Optical ROADM scheme for routing of an individual

sub channel within an all-optical OFDM superchannel

[4] The dramatic growth of Internet traffic is pos- emission. On

the other hand, the dramatic increased in trafficking
unprecedented challenges in all network segments. Moreover, its
increasing heterogeneity was driving research trends in network
functions virtualization and software- defined networking
(SDN) to guarantee high levels of adaptability. Research trends
driven by carriers requirefic heterogeneity in all network
Figure 1: The principles of US remodulation scheme in the full-
duplex WDM-PON. segments is requiring unprecedented levels of reconfigurability,
flexibility, and reconfigurability, adaptability, and flexibility.
[3] The author was presented the experimental implementation Therefore, hardware infrastructures must be capable of playing
of an all-optical ROADM scheme for routing of an individual different roles according to service and traffic requirements. In
sub channel within an all-optical OFDM superchannel. The this context, reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers
different functions required of optical node were demonstrated (ROADMs) are key elements since they route signals di- erectly
using interferometric technique with the extraction, drop, and in the optical domain. Thus, it was crucial to design offer high
addition of individual subchannels in a ten subchannels optically levels of network functions programmability ments on network
aggregated signal. The scheme we reported enables a fully functions virtualization (NFV [2]) are pushing hardware
flexible node compatible with future terabit per second infrastructures capable of playing different roles according to
superchannel transmission. In this paper, we present the service requirements. Moreover, cur- rent proposals on
implementation of a TIDE node optical gating, and thus the software-defined networking (SDN) [3] ROADMs with easy
imperfect demultiplexing penalty for AO-OFDM superchannel maintenance, a low manual intervention rate, and high
with overlapping carriers. That was mitigated. Standard node reconfigurability, flexibility, and adapt- ability. In this work, we
functions, channel drop, extraction, and inserted- Finally, the experimentally demonstrate our recently proposed add/drop on
TIDE node was completed by adding new data to were obtained demand (ADoD) architecture for ROADMs in a SDN
whilst the signals remained fully in the the channel cleared by metropolitan mesh optical network test-bed with 80 dual-
the extract section. For QPSK data, the optical domain. A polarization quadrature phase-shift-keying channels at 128 Gb∕s.
channel was extracted through optical FFT same optical In addition, we ex- by decoupling the data plane and the control
modulator was used for the original superchannel filtering, plane. In this challenging context, reconfigurable optical add/
reshaped using optical gating and a second optical FFT and for drop multiplexers (ROADMs) are key elements in the operator s
the channel added, with the add channel data decor- filter and optical networks since they route signals directly in the optical
then interferometrically erased from the AO-OFDM related domain [4].
from the superchannel by the path length delay. Fig. 7

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 Poliak J. et al [9] discussed the proof of-concept demonstration
of optical DWDM under worst case atmospheric channel
conditions for satellite communications in geostationary orbit.
The highest-to-date throughput of 1.72 Tbit/s was transmitted
over 10.45 km distance with passive transmitter pointing and
active receiver tracking with active single-mode fiber coupling.
This throughput was achieved by modulating 40 DWDM
channels with uncoded 43.01824Gbit/s rate per channel.
Furthermore, direct bit-error-rate and signal fluctuations
measurements were carried out to assess the link performance.
No forward error correction was used. Finally, in each DWDM
channel BER values between error-free and BER = 0.5 were
achieved, with median BER of 4.4 • 10−7. The normalized
Figure 3: Experimental Setup of Remodulated DS WDM-PON variance of the received optical power varied between 0.1 and
System. 3.6.This demonstration served as a basis for development of
active single-mode fiber coupling, turbulent channel
[5] In the optical networks the wavelength division multiplexing characterization and future use of DWDM technology for
technology which multiples a number of optical carrier signals satellite communications.
into a single optical fiber using different wavelengths (colors) of Nagarajan R. et al [10] discussed the nature of and
a signal. Here different wavelengths carrying separate signals requirements for data center interconnect. Then a
are multiplexed by the multiplexer and then they are transmitted demonstration was done on a switch-pluggable, 4.5 W, 100
through a single fiber. At the receiver end, the separate signals at Gbit/s, silicon photonics-based, PAM4, QSFP-28 module to
different wavelengths are demultiplexer by the demultiplexer transport Ethernet data directly over DWDM for layer 2/3
and are given to separate receivers. From the receiver side also connection between switches at data centers up to 120 km
the signals can be transmitted in the same manner through the apart, thereby eliminating the need for a separate optical
same fiber. Hence the information capacity of the fiber is transport layer. The module, based on the direct detect
increased by WDM technique. An optical wavelength modulation format of much reduced complexity, power and
demultiplexer can also be used as multiplexer cost compared to the coherent systems that are currently being
deployed for this application.
Jiang W. et al [11] demonstrated a one-span 100-km
transmission of 64Gbaud/DP-16QAM signal using a state-of-
the-art In P-based coherent transmitter and receiver, a 1-
sample/symbol DAC without pulse shaping, and a 1.25-
sample/symbol ADC/DSP to achieve 400 Gb/s per λ over
100km SSMF. Furthermore, the greatly reduced sampling rate
should enable a low complexity,low cost, and low power DSP
for the 400 Gb/s per λ DCI DWDM or grey links.
Morais R. M. et al [12] evaluated the effectiveness of various
machine learning models used to predict the quality of
transmission (QoT) of an un established light path, speeding up
the process of light path provisioning. Moreover, three network
Figure 4:Wavelength Division Multiplexing
scenarios were proposed to efficiently generate the knowledge
data base used to train the models as well as an overview of the
Turza K. et al [8] presented the possibility of time and
most used machine learning models. The considered models
frequency (T&F) distribution in two generations of dense
were: K-nearest neighbors, logistic regression, support vector
wavelength-division-multiplexing (DWDM) networks: the
machines, and artificial neural networks. It was proved by the
older one, equipped with dispersion compensation fiber (DCF)
results that all machine learning models were able to correctly
modules, and the newest, without in-line chromatic dispersion
predict the QoT of more than90%ofthelightpaths. Furthermore,
compensation (dedicated for coherent signals). The results of
the artificial neural networks proved to be the model achieving
transmission in the newest DWDM systems architecture,
the best generalization, with accuracies in the order of 99%.
dedicated for coherent transmission, were surprisingly good.
Moreover, ANNs for regression predicted the residual mar gin
Allan deviation of frequency transfer was 10−16 for averaging
with average error smaller than 0.4 dB and misclassifications
longer than 104 s, and TDEV was below 15 ps. Hence, it was
for only a few light paths with residual margin near 0 dB.
proved from these results that the DWDM alien wavelength
service can be used for high-demanding applications like WDM optical networks can be broadly categorized into the
cesium fountains comparisons. Results achieved for the former following two classes:
version of DWDM were about one magnitude worse for a long- 1. All-optical transmission (transparent) network:
term comparison, but it can still be useful for less demanding each connection request must be assigned the same
applications. wavelength in every fiber on the allocated path.
Between the transmitter node and receiver node

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 2. Optical transmission (opaque) network: a 5. It provides low insertion loss, high channel isolation,
connection request may be as-signed distinct wide pass band, low temperature sensitivity and epoxy
wavelengths in different optical fibres on the allocated free optical path.
path between the transmitter node and the receiver 6. Lower power dissipation, smaller size, and less cost.
node.
V. DISADVANTAGES OR CHALLENGES
WDM:
1. Complex transmitters and receivers.
2. They must be wideband, which means they are more
expensive and possibly less reliable.
DWDM:
1. Not cost-effective for low channel numbers.
2. Fixed cost of mux/demux, transponder, other system
components.
3. Introduces another element, the frequency domain, to
Figure 5: Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing network design and management.
4. DWDM performance monitoring and protection
 Multiple channels of information carried over the same methodologies developing.
fiber, each using an individual wavelength. CWDM:
 Dense WDM is WDM utilizing closely spaced channels. 1. Number of channel is limited.
 Cost effective way of increasing capacity without 2. The CWDM-PON lacks in scalability.
replacing fiber.
 Commercial systems available with capacities of 32 VI. COCLUSION
channels.
 Allows new optical network topologies, for example The advantages of DWDM make this technology ideal for
high speed metropolitan rings. communication and other. The scope of optical network based
services are increasing and it provides better results compared
III. CWDM to the traditional networks like circuit switching and packet
Coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) is a method switching policies. By using optical fibers the nature of
of combining multiple signals on laser beams at various transmitting data is high and fast when compare to the above
wavelengths for transmission along fiber optic cables, such that traditional approaches using copper cables, twisted pairs as a
the number of channels is fewer than in dense wavelength communication medium.As well as studied about optical
division multiplexing (DWDM) but more than in standard ROADM scheme for routing of an individual sub channel
wavelength division multiplexing (WDM).CWDM utilizes within an all-optical OFDM superchannel. The different
multiple wavelength spaced at 20nm. The International functions required of optical node were demonstrated using
Telecommunication Union (ITU) specifies 18CWDM interferometric technique with the extraction, drop, and
wavelengths from 1271nm to 1611nm. Transmitters, optical addition of individual subchannels in a ten subchannels
multiplexers and demultiplexer are at defined wavelength but optically aggregated signal and Coarse wavelength division
they do not need to be tightly controlled which translates into multiplexing (CWDM) is a method of combining multiple
lower equipment costs compared to Dense WDM signals on laser beams at various wavelengths for transmission
along fiber optic cables, such that the number of channels is
IV. ADVANTAGES fewer than in dense wavelength division multiplexing
WDM: (DWDM) but more than in standard wavelength division
1. Fewer wires or channels to transmit and receive data. multiplexing (WDM).
2. A single fiber-optic cable can handle dozens of channel,
instead of using 12 cables, you only use one.
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