केवल कार्ाालर्ीन

उपर्ोग हे तु
For official use only

भारत सरकार - GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

रे ऱ मंत्राऱय - MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

Introduction to Dense Wavelength

Division Multiplexing (DWDM)

Prepared by: Ravi Shanker Mishra, SSE/Telecom/Camtech/GWL

CAMTECH/S/PROJ/2022-23/SP4A APR – 2022
End User: SSE/JEs (Telecommunication) of Indian Railways

Maharajpur, Gwalior (MP)-474020

Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM)
In fiber-optic communications, wavelength-division multiplexing is a technology which
multiplexes a number of optical carrier signals onto a single optical fiber by using
different wavelengths of laser light. The “Dense” here means that the wavelength
channels are very close to each other. Each wavelength is about 0.8 nanometer wide and
shares a single optical fiber.

The term WDM is commonly applied to an optical carrier, which is typically described
by its wavelength, whereas frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) typically applies to
a radio carrier which is more often described by frequency. This is purely conventional
because wavelength and frequency communicate the same information..
The working principle of DWDM is to transmit multiple signals of different
wavelengths at the same time on the same optical fiber. This technology creates
multiple virtual optical fibers, increasing bandwidth on existing fiber optic
backbones. More specifically, the technique multiplexes the tight spectral spacing of a
single fiber carrier in a given fiber in order to take advantage of the achievable
transmission performance (eg, with minimal dispersion or attenuation). In this way, with
a given information transmission capacity, the total number of optical fibers required
can be reduced.

As data flows through distinct wavelengths, the streams or channels do not interfere
with each other. This approach helps maintain data integrity. As a result, this enables
security-related partitioning or separate tenants in the same data center.

1
Fiber optic cables now commonly form the backbone of carriers' interoffice networks,
representing the standard for the telecommunications infrastructure. DWDM enables
enormous amounts of data to traverse a single network link by creating multiple
virtual fibers, significantly multiplying the capacity of the physical medium.

Because of its ability to handle so much data, DWDM is popular with

telecommunications and cable companies. It is an integral part of their core networks.
DWDM is also highly suitable for anyone running densely populated data centers,
such as hyperscale cloud service providers operating infrastructure as a service or
colocation providers with dense multi-tenant spaces.

2
3
Evolution of WDM
Wavelength Division Multiplexing is a technique that allows for the transport of
multiple frequencies (or wavelengths) to be transmitted over the same optical
networking fiber simultaneously. This is accomplished through the use of equipment
like optical transmitters or transceivers with outputs tuned to individual and specific
wavelengths so that there are distinct and non-overlapping transmission channels.
Early fiber-optic transmission systems put information onto strands of glass through
simple pulses of light. A light was flashed on and off to represent digital ones and zeros.
The actual light could be of almost any wavelength—from roughly 670 nanometers to
1550 nanometers. Wavelength Division Multiplexing, or WDM, is a technique in fiber-
optic transmission that uses multiple light wavelengths to send data over the same
medium. During the 1980s, fiber-optic data communications modems used low-cost
LEDs to put near-infrared pulses onto low-cost fiber. As the need for information
increased, so did the need for bandwidth. Early SONET systems used 1310 nanometer
lasers to deliver 155 Mb/s data streams over very long distances.

But this capacity was quickly exhausted. Over time, advances in optoelectronic
components allowed the design of systems that simultaneously transmitted multiple
wavelengths of light over a single fiber, significantly increasing fiber capacity. Thus,
WDM was born. Multiple high-bit-rate data streams of 10 Gb/s, 40 Gb/s, 100 Gb/s, 200
Gb/s and more recently, 400 Gb/s and 800 Gb/s, each carrying distinct throughputs, can
be multiplexed over a single fiber.

There are two types of WDM today:

Coarse WDM (CWDM): CWDM is defined by WDM systems with fewer than
eight active wavelengths per fiber. CWDM is used for short-range communications, so
it employs wide-range frequencies with wavelengths that are spread far apart.
Standardized channel spacing permits room for wavelength drift as lasers heat up and
cool down during operation. CWDM is a compact and cost-effective option when
spectral efficiency is not an important requirement.
Dense WDM (DWDM): DWDM is defined in terms of frequencies. DWDM’s
tighter wavelength spacing fits more channels onto a single fiber, but costs more to
implement and operate. DWDM is for systems with more than eight active wavelengths
per fiber. DWDM dices spectrum finely, fitting 40-plus channels into the C-band
frequency range.

3
4
 Working Principle
The mainsystem
A DWDM strength
generallyofconsists
Wi-Fiofisfiveitscomponents:
simplicity andTransmitters/Receivers,
Optical ease of
deployment.
DWDM Mux/DeMux Furthermore,
Filters, Optical because
Add/Dropit Multiplexers
uses unlicensed (OADMs), Optical
Amplifiers, Transponders (Wavelength Converters).
radio spectrum, Wi-Fi allows users to be mobile for up to
.
300 feet from the base station and still have access to the
network. Moreover, the cost for rolling out this wireless
solution is low because no expensive wiring is required.
[4]
As a fixed broadband access technology, Wi-Fi has its
weaknesses. The user can only use the technology within
the confines of a 300 feet radius thus limiting the level of
mobility. Also, the fact that the technology operates in
the 2.4GHz band which does not require any licensing,
renders it susceptible to interference from other devices
such as Bluetooth, cordless phones, etc. In terms of
security, the encryption standard used has been shown to
be easily breakable
1. The transponder [4].input in the form of a standard single-mode or multimode
accepts
laser pulse. The input can come from different physical media and different protocols
Figure 2: Wi-Fi architecture Wimax:
and traffic types.
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
2. The wavelength of the transponder input signal is mapped to a DWDM
(WiMax) is an emerging fixed broadband wireless
wavelength.
technology that will from
3. DWDM wavelengths deliver last mile
the transponder arebroadband
multiplexed with signals from the
connectivity
direct interfaceintoaform
larger geographic
a composite area
optical signal whichthan Wi-Fi.
is launched intoIttheisfiber.
expected to provide
4. A post-amplifier coverage
(booster anywhere
amplifier) boosts from
the strength one
of the to signal
optical six as it
miles wide.
leaves Such WiMax coverage range is expected to
the multiplexer.
provide fixed isand
5. An OADM usednomadic wireless
at a remote location broadband
to drop and add bit streams of a specific
wavelength.
connectivity without necessarily having a line-of-site
6. Additional optical amplifiers can be used along the fiber span (in-line amplifier) as
(LOS) with a base station. WiMax will also enable greater
needed.
mobility, higher speed data applications, range and
7. A pre-amplifier boosts the signal before it enters the demultiplexer.
throughput than its counterpart, Wi-Fi.[4]
8. The incoming signal is demultiplexed into individual DWDM wavelengths.
WiMax uses the IEEE 802.16 standards specifications
9. The individual DWDM lambdas are either mapped to the required output type
through the transponder or they are passed directly to client-side equipment.
5 4
Advantages of DWDM Technology
Compared with the common single-channel system, DWDM not only greatly enhances the
communication capacity of the network system, fully utilizes the bandwidth of the optical
fiber, but also has the advantages of simple expansion and reliable performance. In
particular, it can directly access multiple services. In the analog carrier communication
system, in order to fully utilize the bandwidth resources of the cable and improve the
transmission capacity of the system, the method of frequency division multiplexing is
generally used. That is, in the same cable, several channels of signals are transmitted at the
same time. The receiving end filters out the signals of each channel by the band-pass filter
according to the different carrier frequencies.
Large capacity
An important feature of WDM is that it can make full use of the bandwidth resources of the
optical fiber and increase the data transmission capacity without changing the existing
network infrastructure, so that the transmission capacity of an optical fiber is multiple
times that of a single wavelength. The DWDM system can support up to 192 wavelengths
of the pair of the optical fiber, the transmission capacity per wavelength up to 100Gbit/s ~
about 400 Gbit/s and a Terabit/s.

Good compatibility
WDM has good compatibility with different signals. When signals of different properties
such as images, data and voice are transmitted in the same optical fiber, each wavelength is
independent of each other and does not interfere with each other, ensuring the transparency
of transmission.

High network flexibility, economy and reliability

Wavelength division multiplexing technology allows new channels to be connected as

needed without interrupting existing traffic services, making upgrades easier. When
upgrading and expanding the network, there is no need to renovate the optical cable line,
and new businesses can be opened or superimposed by adding wavelengths, saving a large
number of optical fibers and 3R regenerators during large-capacity long-distance
transmission, and the transmission cost is significantly reduced.

Wavelength routing

WDM technology is one of the key technologies to realize all-optical networks. In the all-
optical network that is expected to be realized in the future, by changing and adjusting the
wavelength of the optical signal on the optical path, the up/down and cross-connection of
various telecommunication services can be realized.

5
Applications of DWDM Technology
There are numerous advantages and application of DWDM network in
telecommunication:
A. High data transfer: Using this technology, high data transmission is achieved. In
comparison to conventional WDM, DWDM offers more than 5 times data transmission
rates to WDM.

B. No new Fiber: DWDM removes the necessity of installation of new fiber as it have
expanded the capacity of the same fiber.

C. Low Cost: Due to low cost, it have save money in optical fiber along with devices.

D. DWDM can also be used in various networks like sensor networks, remote radar
networks, tele spectroscopic process control network and many more networks.

E. May be Used for amplified DWDM networks, Fiber Channel, fixed and
reconfigurable OADM ring network topologies, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, and
other optical transmission systems.

F. Complied with the 10 GBASE-ZR/ZW standard and could be used for 10G optical
cable.

G. DWDM XFP modules, DWDM X2 modules, and DWDM XENPAK modules are
commonly used in applications such as 10G Ethernet, 10G Fiber Channel, SONET
(Synchronous Optical Network), and SDH (Optical Transmission Equipment).

H. In addition, these DWDM modules can also be used for switch-to-switch interfaces,
switch backplane applications, and router/server interfaces.

6
 DISCLAIMER
The information given in this pamphlet does not supersede any existing provisions
laid down in Telecom Engineering Manual, Railway Board and RDSO publications.
This document is not statutory and the contents given in it are for the purpose of
guidance only. If at any point contradiction is observed, then TEM, Railway
Board/RDSO guidelines or Zonal Rly. Instructions may be followed.

INDIAN RAILWAYS
Centre for Advanced Maintenance Technology
Maharajpur, Gwalior (M.P.) – 474 005