OPTICAL FIBER COMMUNICATION

Agenda

Introduction
Types of Optical Fiber
OFC Technology
Losses in OFC
Test and Measurements
Optical Fiber Cables
Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing

Introduction

Telecommunication
Telecommunication is the transmission of information over significant
distances to communicate.
Telecommunication began with the use of smoke signals and drums.
Main components of Telecommunication are Transmitter, Receiver and
Medium.
Telecommunication can be categorised by medium used: Wireline and
wireless.

Telecommunication Medium
Physical path between transmitter and receiver is called transmission
medium, wireline or wireless.
Wireless (unguided) media
Microwave radio.
Communication satellites

Wireline (guided) medium

Copper wires
Fiber-optic cables

Selection Criteria for Medium

Ease of installation
Security
Distance
Bandwidth
Roll out time

Optical Fiber Communication: Overview

Optical Fiber Communication is a method of transmitting information
from one place to another by sending pulses of light through an optical
fiber.
The light forms an electromagnetic carrier wave that is modulated to
carry information.

Evolution of Optical Fiber Communication

In 1880 Alexander Graham Bell developed the photophone.
In 1966 Charles Kao and Charles Hockham of England proposed an
optical fiber with its attenuation 20 dB/km.
in 1977 AT&T and GTE installed fiber optic telephone systems.
In 1998, about100 optical signals, each at a data rate of 10Gbps were
transmitted for a distance of nearly 400 km using DWDM technology.
Possibilities for future as the 'last mile optical fiber FTTH.

Types of Optical Fiber

Optical Fiber
An optical fiber is a flexible, transparent fiber made of very pure glass
(silica) or plastic not much bigger than a human hair.
Optical fibers are widely used in fiber-optic communications, which
permits transmission over longer distances and at higher bandwidths.
Fibers are also used for illumination, and are wrapped in bundles so
they can be used to carry images, thus allowing viewing in tight spaces.

Optical Spectrum
Gamma

X-Ray

Ultraviolet

0.01nm

1nm

100 nm

390 nm

Visible

Infrared

1 mm

Radio

1cm

1m
770 nm

1km

Wavelengths in Optical Fiber

For fiber optics with glass fibers, we use light wavelengths around 850,
1300 and 1550 nm.
These wavelengths are falling in the infrared region and having less
attenuation.

Construction of Fiber
An optical fiber consists of a core, cladding and buffer (a protective
outer coating).
The cladding guides the light along the core by using the method of
total internal reflection.
In the glass fiber core and cladding are made of high quality silica glass.
The refractive index of the core is greater than cladding by appox. 1%.

Single Fiber

Fiber Cable

Principle of Optical Communication

Total Internal Reflection
For all angles of incidence greater than the critical angle, the incident ray will get
reflected back into the denser medium itself. This phenomenon is called total internal
reflection.

Classification of Optical Fibers

Optical Fiber

Mode

Single Mode

Ref. Index

Material

Multi Mode

Glass

Step Index

Plastic

Graded Index

Fiber Material
Fiber core and cladding can be of Glass or Plastic as given below.
Glass Core and Glass Cladding (Most widely used).
Glass Core and Plastic Cladding.
Plastic Core and Plastic Cladding (inexpensive, support very low Band Width)

Plastic Fiber

Single Mode Fiber

In a single mode fiber only one mode can propagate through the fiber.
The core of a single mode fiber is smaller (8.3 to 10 microns). most
common size is 9um.
Laser is used as light source for single mode fiber.
Launching of light into single mode fibers is difficult.
Degradation of the signal are very small, so useful in long distance
communication, transmit upto10 Gbit/s per data channel over distances
of about ten kilometers .
1310 or 1550 nm wavelength is used in single mode fiber with higher
transmission rate.

Multimode Fiber
Multimode fibers allow a large number of modes .
A multimode optical fiber has larger core (50 to 100 microns). Most
common size is 62.5um.
WDM is not normally used on multi-mode fiber.
850 or 1300 nm wavelength is used in multimode fiber.
In long cable runs (greater than 3000 feet [914.4 meters), multiple paths
of light can cause signal distortion at the receiving end.
LED is used as a light source in multimode fibers .
Cladding

Core

Step Index Optical Fiber

In the step index fiber, the refractive index of the core is uniform
throughout.
Different light modes in a step-index multimode fiber follow different
lengths along the fiber in zigzag way.
The arrival of different modes of the light at different times causes
dispersion.

input

output

Graded Index Optical Fiber

Graded-index fibers refractive index decreases gradually away from its
center.
The change in refractive index causes refraction, instead of total
internal reflection. Light rays follow sinusoidal paths.
Different light modes follow different lengths along the fiber. Their
speeds differ because of variation in in cores refractive index.
The speed difference compensate for the longer paths followed by the
light rays that go farthest from the center of the fiber, Thus reduces
modal dispersion.

Practically used Optical Fibers

Input
Pulse

MM Step index: 62.5/125 m

MM Graded index: 50/125 m
SM Step index: 9/125 m
Single mode graded index is not practically used.

Multimode Step index

Multimode Graded index

Single mode Step index

Output
Pulse

Multimode

Single mode

Fiber Colour Coding

Fiber colour sequence as per ITU

Optical Fiber Connectors

ST connector

LC connector

FC connector

SC connector

MTRJ connector

FDDI connector

ESCON connector

Components of Optical Fiber Connector

Gap- Loss
Gap-loss happens when there is a space, breakage, or gap between
fiber connection.
Light can cross this gap, but spreads out and is weakened and diffused.

Connector Polishing
Modern connectors typically use
a "physical contact" polish on the fiber
and ferrule end.
Higher grades of polish give less
insertion loss and lower back reflection.
Many connectors are available with the
fiber endface polished at an angle to
prevent light that reflects back up the fiber.

FC/PC: polished curved

FC/UPC: ultra-PC
FC/APC: angle PC

Method of Cleaning of OF Connections

Dry Clean with Lint-Free Wipes
To clean the optical fiber connector endface by using lens
paper or cloth.
Sometimes can induce scratches.

Dry Clean with Lint-Free Swabs

Used to clean the patch panel connector, or
receptacles.

Air spray (air duster, canned air, compressed air)

Air dusters are used to blow loose particles from optical fiber
connector endface,

Method of Cleaning of OF Connections

Wet Cleaning with Lint-Free Wipes
A few drops of solvent (typically isopropyl alcohol) are applied to lens paper which is
folded in 4~6 layers.
This must be followed by a dry cleaning step to
prevent solvent residue, either by air duster or
dry lint-free wipes.

Reminders for cleaning

Always turn off any laser sources before you inspect fiber connectors, optical
components, or bulkheads.
Never touch the end face of an optical fiber connector
Always Install dust caps on unplugged fiber connectors
Store unused dust caps in a re-sealable bag to prevent dust accumulating
Do not re-use optic cleaning swabs or lens paper (lint free wipes)
Make sure all solvent residues are removed when using a wet cleaning

Cleaning Process
Inspect the fiber connector, component, with a fiberscope.
If the connector is dirty, clean it with a dry cleaning technique.
Inspect the connector. If the connector is still dirty, repeat the dry
cleaning technique.
Inspect the connector. If the connector is still dirty, clean it with a wet
cleaning technique followed immediately with a dry clean in order to
ensure no residue is left on the endface.
Inspect the connector again. If the contaminate still cannot be removed,
repeat the cleaning procedure until the endface is clean.

Fiberscope

Colour coding of Optical Fiber Connectors

Advantages of Optical Fibers

Very high information carrying capacity.

Less attenuation (order of 0.2 db/km)
Small in diameter and size & light weight
Low cost as compared to copper (as glass is made from sand..the raw
material used to make it is free.)
Greater safety and immune to EMI & RFI, moisture & corrosion
Is dielectric in nature so can be laid in eclectically sensitive
surroundings
Difficult to tap fibers, so secure
No cross talk and disturbances

Disadvantages of Optical Fibers

The terminating equipment is still costly as compared to copper
equipment.
It is delicate so has to be handled carefully.
Last mile is still not totally fiberised due to costly subscriber premises
equipment.
Communication is not totally in optical domain, so repeated Electric
Optical Electrical conversion is needed.
Optical amplifiers, splitters, MUX-DEMUX are still in development
stages.
Tapping is not possible. Specialized equipment is needed to tap a fiber.
Optical fiber splicing is a specialized technique and needs expertly
trained manpower.
The splicing and testing equipments are very expensive as compared to
copper equipments.

Applications of Optical Fiber

Long distance communication backbones

Medicine Industry
Video transmission
Broadband services
Computer data communication (LAN, WAN etc..)
High EMI areas
Military application
Non-communication applications (sensors etc)

Some Manufactures of Optical Fiber

Furukawa
Fujikura
LG Cables
Corning
Philips-Fitel
Pirelli
TTL
Sterlite Cables

OFC Technology

Typical Optical System

Optical Transmitter: LED

Spectral width of 30-60 nm
The large spectrum width of LEDs causes higher fiber dispersion,
considerably limiting their bit rate-distance product.
Communications LEDs are most commonly made from gallium arsenide
phosphide (GaAsP) at 1300 nm or gallium arsenide (GaAs). at 850 nm.
LEDs are suitable primarily for local-area-network applications with bit
rates of 10-100 Mbit/s and transmission distances of a few kilometers.

Optical Transmitter: LASER

LASER diode Producer coherent light..
High Output power
The narrow spectral width allows for high bit rates and long distance.
Better coupling efficiency.

Optical Receiver
Optical Receiver is made of Photo detector (Photo diode) which
convert light into electrical signal.
Photo diodes used: P-I-N Photodiodes, Avalanche Photodiodes (APD).
P-I-N Photodiodes has upto 1300 nm operating wavelength.
Avalanche Photodiodes has up to 1550 nm operating wavelength.
APD has more sensitivity than P-I-N Photodiodes.

Optical Transceivers
Fiber optic transceivers include both a transmitter and a receiver in the
same component.
Transmitter and Receiver are arranged in parallel so that they can
operate independently of each other.
Used for both single mode and multimode cables.
The small form-factor pluggable (SFP) is the example of transceiver.

SFP

Optical Regenerator
Regenerate an optical signal by converting optical signal to an
electrical signal, processing that electrical signal and then retransmitting
an optical signal.
Overcoming loss due to attenuation of the optical fiber and distortion of
the optical signal.
Also known as 'optical-electrical-optical' (OEO) or regenerators.

Classification of Regenerators
Optical regenerations are classified into 3 categories by the 3 R's
scheme.
R : reamplification of the data pulse alone is carried out.
2R : in addition to reamplification, pulse reshaping is carried out. Eg:
Mamyshev 2R regenerator.
3R : in addition to reamplification and reshaping, retiming of data pulse
is done.

Optical Amplifier
OEO repeaters are expensive to implement as electronics to handle
those high data rates are expensive and difficult to construct.
One repeater is required for each wavelength, so a lot of equipment is
required for each fiber.
An optical amplifier can amplify all of the wavelengths in a single
device.
EDFA is the most commonly used Optical Amplifier.

EDFA
The erbium doped fiber is pumped by feeding the light from a laser
pump diode through a coupler into the erbium ion doped fiber.
Wavelength range of 1525 to 1565 nm that can be amplified.
Used in DWDM, SONET, SDH Networks
Single wavelength or multi-wavelength (DWDM) amplification

Optical Coupler
Fiber optic couplers either split optical signals into multiple paths or
combine multiple signals on one path.
These devices possess at least three ports. The ratio of the distribution
of light between the output ports are defined, e.i. 90%-10%
Total output is never as high as the input. Loss figures range from 0.05
dB to 2 dB for different coupler types.
In LAN applications, either a star network topology or a bus topology
incorporate couplers.

Losses in Optical Fiber

Signal Degradation in Optical Fiber

Attenuation and dispersion are the two critical characteristics that
determine the maximum distance an optical signal can be transmitted
before the receiver is unable to detect it.
The attenuation of a fiber is wavelength dependant.

Transmission Losses in Fibers

Transmission loss or attenuation of the signal in an optical fiber is
measured in dB/km.
Losses in fiber are the function of wavelengths
Losses can be classified into four types

Material Absorption
Rayleigh scattering
waveguide imperfections
Radiative losses

Material Absorption
Intrinsic Absorption:
Intrinsic absorption losses correspond to absorption by fused silica (material used to
make fibers).
intrinsic material absorption for silica in the wavelength range 0.8~1.6um is below
0.1dB/km.

Extrinsic Absorption:
Extrinsic absorption is related to losses caused by impurities within silica.
The main source of extrinsic absorption silica fibers is the presence of water vapors.

Rayleigh Scattering
Silica molecules move randomly in the molten state and freeze in place
during fiber fabrication.
Density fluctuation lead to random fluctuations of the refractive index.
Light scattering in such a medium is known as Rayleigh scattering

Waveguide Imperfections
Imperfections at the core-cladding interface, such as random coreradius variations, can lead to losses.
This has been taken good care of in optical fiber manufacturing and the
core radius is made sure not to vary significantly along the fiber length.

Radiative Losses
Radiative losses occur whenever an optical fiber undergoes a bend of
finite radius of curvature.
Fibers can be subjected to two types of bends.
Macroscopic bending: Bends having radii that are large compared to the fiber
diameter e.g. when a fiber cable turns a corner.
Microscopic bending: Random microscopic bends of the fiber axis that can arise
when the fibers are incorporated into cables, e.g. deformation of axis.

Microbend loss

Macrobend loss

Dispersion in Optical Fiber

Various wavelengths of the signal have different propagation velocities.
Dispersion is the spreading out of a light pulse in time as it propagates
down the fiber. Dispersion limits the information carrying capacity of a
fiber. It is measured as ps/nm.km
Types of Dispersion
Model dispersion
Material dispersion
Waveguide dispersion

t2

t1

Dis=

1 dt
____
L d

ps/nm.km

Model Dispersion
Each mode enters the fiber at a different angle and thus travels at
different paths in the fiber.
Each mode ray travels a different distance as it propagates, the ray
arrive at different times at the fiber output.
The light pulse spreads out in time which can cause signal overlapping.
Multimode fibers have many different light modes since they have much
larger core size.

Material Dispersion
Dependence of refractive index of the material on wavelength.
The velocity of light through a fiber depends on its wavelength.
Different wavelengths travel at different velocity due to refractive index,
hence the different propagation causes material dispersion.
Material dispersion at 1300nm for silica is zero.

Waveguide Dispersion
Some light travels in the fiber cladding compared to most light travels in
the fiber core.
Light ray that travels in the cladding travels faster than that in the core
causes waveguide dispersion.
Single mode fiber suffers from waveguide dispersion as it has small
core diameter.

Effect of Dispersion

Spreading of pulses which can cause Inter Symbol Interference ISI.

Detection of individual pulse is not easy at receiver.
Poor BER performance.
Limit the communication distance.
Limit the transmission rate.

Soliton Transmission
Solitons are dispersionless pulses of light.
It exist in non linear medium (refractive index is changed by varying
intensity of the light pulse itself).
Solitons cancel out the chromatic dispersion of optical fibers.

Test and Measurement Instruments

Test Equipment used in OFC

OTDR
Splicing Machine

OPTICAL TALK SETS

POWER METER,

Mechanical Splice
Tool Kit

LASER SOURCE, ATTENUATOR

Optics Testing Requirements

Test Parameter

Instrument

Optical Power (Source Output, Receiver

Signal Level, insertion loss of connector)

Fiber Optic Power Meter

Wavelength, Spectral Width

Fiber Optic Spectrum Analyser

Backscatter for Loss, Length and Fault

Location

OTDR

Fault Location

OTDR, Visual Cable Fault Locator

Bandwidth/Dispersion

Dedicated Bandwidth Testers

Reflectance

OTDR, OCWR (optical continuous wave

reflectometer)

Optical Power Meter (OPM)

OPM measure the average optical power out of an optical fiber.
It incorporates a highly sensitive and stable InGaAs detector that afford
the user a measurement range.( +5 to -75 dBm).
Power meters are calibrated at the typical wavelengths used in fiber
optics, 850, 1300 and 1550 nm.
The user must set the meter to the correct test wavelength.
Some meter uses Auto wavelengths
Recognition feature.

PM-1500 Specification (TeraherzTech,US)

Optical Light Source(OLS)

OLS along with Optical Power Meter is used to make measurements of
optical loss or attenuation in fibers, cables and connectors.
It should be compatibility with the type of fiber in use (singlemode or
multimode with the proper core diameter) and the wavelength.
Sources may be either LED's or LASERS.
Sometimes optical power meters are combined with an Optical Light
Source (OLS) or Visual Fault Locator (VFL).

PM-1500 Specification (Teraherz Tech, US)

OTDR
Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) is used for estimating the
fibers length and overall attenuation, including splice and matedconnector losses and to locate faults, such as breaks.
OTDR functions by injecting a series of optical pulses into the fiber
under test, using LASER or LED.
It requires access to only one end of the fiber.

Rayleigh Scattering in OTDR

A light pulse is sent down a fiber, part of the pulse runs into microscopic
particles (called dopants) in the glass and gets scattered in all
directions. This is called Rayleigh Scattering.
An OTDR can measure the levels of backscattering very accurately and
uses it to detect small variations in the characteristics of fiber at any
point along its length.

Fresnel Reflection in OTDR

light traveling in a material (such as optical fiber ) encounters a different
density material (such as air) ,some of the light-up to 4% is reflected
back towards the light source called Fresnel Reflection.

Fiber Trace at OTDR

Near End
Reflection And
Dead Zone
A

B/Scatter

Db

Reflective Event
(Mech. Splice Or
Connector)

Fresnel Refl.
None Reflective
Event (Fusion
Splice Or Bend)

Distance

End Of
Fiber

Splicing of Optical Fiber

Jointing of two fibers with specific tools and a machine is called splicing.
Fiber cable rolled over drum has a maximum distance of 2kms,
so in long distance fiber communication system , it is required to join
two fibers.
Types of splicing
Fusion Splicing
Mechanical Splicing

Fusion Splicing

Fusion splicing is done with a specialized instrument.

The fiber ends are stripped of their protective polymer coating.
Put Heat Shrinkable protection sleeve over the fiber.
The ends are cleaved (cut) with a precision cleaver to make them
perpendicular, and are placed into special holders in the splicer.
The splicer uses small motors to align the end faces together.
The splicer generates a larger spark that raises the temperature above
the melting point of the glass, fusing the ends together permanently.

Components of Fusion Splicing Machine

Heat Oven

Protection
Sleeve

Fusion
Electrodes

Cleaver

Fiber Holder

Cleaver
Blade

Mechanical Splicing
A mechanical splice is a junction of two or more optical fibers that are
aligned and held in place by a self-contained assembly.
The fibers aren't permanently joined, just precisely held together so that
light can pass from one to another.

Visual Fault Locator

Visual Fault Locator is used to inject the visible light to visually trace the
fiber from transmitter to receiver.
It covers the range where OTDRs are not useful.
This is used for buffered fiber and even jacketed single fiber cable if the
jacket is not opaque to the visible light.

Fiber Scope
Cleaved fiber ends prepared for splicing and polished connector
ferrules require visual inspection to find possible defects.
Cleaved fibers are usually viewed from the side, to see breakover and
lip. Connectors are viewed end-on or at a small angle to find polishing
defects such as scratches.

Fiber Optics Talksets

They transmit voice over fiber optic cables already installed, allowing
technicians splicing or testing the fiber to communicate effectively.
Talksets are especially useful when walkie-talkies and telephones are
not available.

Fiber Optic Loss Budget

Basic elements to determine transmission system performance

Fiber Loss Factor

Type of fiber
Transmitter
Receiver Sensitivity
Number of splices
Types of splices
Margin

Fiber Optic Loss Budget Calculation

Fiber Loss: 14.5 km 35dB = -5.075
Fusion splice Loss: 4 .2dB = -.8
Terminating Connectors Loss: 2 1.0dB = -2.0
Margin: -5.0
Total Fiber Loss: -12.875

Transmit Power: -3dBm

Budget Loss(Rx Level): -3-(12.875)= -15.875 dBm
Receiver Sensitivity: -18dBm

Parameters used for Link Budget Calculation

Optical Fiber Cable

Fiber Optic Cabling

Benefits of Cabling
Easy Handling
Protection from damaging forces
Protection from harsh environment factors

Fiber Optic Cable Color

The jacket color of single mode fiber is typically yellow.
The jacket color of multimode fiber is typically orange.
For outside plant cables, the standard jacket color is typically black.

Elements in a Fiber Optic Cable

Cable Jacket
Polyethylene: PE (black color) has excellent moisture and weather-resistance
properties, used for outdoor.
Polyvinyl Chloride: It is flexible and fire-retardant, used for indoor/outdoor.
Polyvinyl difluoride: PVDF is used for plenum cables because it has better fireretardant properties than PE and produces little smoke.
Low Smoke Zero Halogen: LSZH plastics produce little smoke and no toxic halogen
compounds. But they are the most expensive jacket material.

Aramid Yarn (trade name Kevlar)

Aramid yarn is a yellow color. It is strong and is used to bundle and protect the loose
tubes or fibers in the cable. When a cable is pulled into a duct, the tension is applied
to the aramid yarn instead of the fibers.

Elements in a Fiber Optic Cable

Central Strength Member
Central strength member made of steel, fiberglass or aramid yarn needed to provide
the rigidity.

Gel Compound
Making the cable impervious to water.

Ripcord
Its role is to split the cable easily without harming cable interiors.

Dark Fiber
To prevent light that leaks out of one fiber from entering another.

Basic Fiber Structures

900um Tight Buffered Fibers

Core (9um for standard single mode fibers, 50um or 62.5um for multimode fibers)
Cladding (125um)
Coating (soft plastic, 250um)
Tight buffer (hard plastic, 900um)

250um coated fiber (bare fiber)

Core (9um for standard single mode fibers, 50um or 62.5um for multimode fibers)
Cladding (125um)
Coating (soft plastic, 250um is the most popular, sometimes 400um is also used)

900um Tight Buffered Fiber

250um bare fiber

Types of Fiber Optics Cable

Tight Buffered Cable
Multiple color coded 900um tight buffered fibers can be packed tightly together in a
compact cable structure, to connect outside plant cables to terminal equipment.

Elements in a tight buffered fiber optic cable

Multiple 900um tight buffered fibers (stranded around the central strength member)
Central strength member (in the center of the cable)
Aramid Yarn (trade name Kevlar, Kevlar was developed by Dupont) (wrapped around
the fibers, for physical protection and cable pulling)
Ripcord (for easy removal of outer jacket)
Outer jacket (also called sheath, PVC is most common for indoor cables because of
its flexible, fire-retardant and easy extrusion characteristics.)

Types of Fiber Optics Cable

Loose Tube Cable
Loose-tube cables typically are used for outside-plant
installation in aerial, duct and direct-buried applications.

Elements in a loose tube fiber optic cable

Multiple 250um (up to 12) coated bare fibers (in loose tube)
One or more loose tubes holding 250um bare fibers.
Loose tubes strand around the central strength member.
Moisture blocking gel in each loose tube for water blocking
and protection of fibers
Central strength member, Aramid Yarn and Ripcord.
Outer jacket (Polyethylene is most common for outdoor).

Types of Fiber Optics Cable

Simplex Fiber Cables

Duplex Fiber Optic Cable

Types of Fiber Optics Cable

Distribution Fiber Cables

Ribbon Fiber Cables

Aerial/Self-Supporting Fiber Cables

Types of Fiber Optics Cable

Direct-Buried

Submarine Fiber Optic Cable

Colour Coding for Fiber Optics Cable

OFC Laying
OFC can have its transmission characteristics degraded when
subjected to excessive pulling force, sharp bends, and crushing forces.
The most common method is to run fiber alongside railroad tracks and
alongside of highways, because they have already had crews cut
through the rugged landscape.
Methods of installation of OFC

Direct buried
Duct
Aerial
Under water

Direct Buried Installation

Specially designed OFC buried under the ground without conduit/duct.
With an additional tough sheath that acts like a subduct once buried,
with superior resistance to crush, distortion and corrosion.
These cables are designed with a metallic armor sheath to prevent
damage.
Burying the cable 36 to 48 inches deep, used in rural and suburban
locations.

Duct Installation
Special lightweight underground cables are generally installed in Duct
or Conduit using blowing machine.
Available in central loose tube design, The duct cables can be supplied
with aluminum foil as a moisture barrier. Aramid or glass yarn can be
added for extra axial pulling strength and glass yarn or polyamide can
be used as protection against rodents.
Conduit used for telecommunications cable projects is High Density
Polyethylene (HDPE).
Installed in Urban areas.

Arial (Overhead) Installation

Aerial installations go from pole to pole. Sufficient poles are required in
the route to minimize the effect of cable sag.
Two types of cable are available: self-supporting. or lashed.
UV protected sheath is used to minimize effects from sunlight.
Fiber to the Home or CATV operators use these fibers.

Submarine Installation
Submarine telecommunication cable is a cable that is used for the
telecommunication between the countries across the world oversea.
Fiber optic submarine cable is the backbone of the whole internet.
Special cables are used that are more rugged and sealed.
Submarine cables are consisting of electrical conductive tube that is
used to transfer the electrical signals between the repeaters.
These cables are laid in the seabed by the cable lying ships.

I-ME-WE Submarine OFC

I-ME-WE (India-Middle East-Western Europe) is a 13,000-kilometre
submarine communications cable system between India and France.
The design capacity is 3.84 Terabits per second. It has been operational
since 2009. Comprises three optical fiber cable pairs and 2 trunk lines.
For India cable was funded by Airtel Bharti and TATA Communication.
Cable landing station at Mumbai (two places).

SE-ME-WE-4 Submarine OFC

South East AsiaMiddle EastWestern Europe 4 (SEA-ME-WE 4)
carries telecommunications between Singapore and France via India
and different countries.
The cable is approximately 18,800 kilometers long, and provides the
primary Internet backbone.
It comprises 16 telecommunications companies including Bharti infotel
Limited and TATA Communication of India.

France

DWDM

Multiplexing
Multiplexing is a process where multiple signals (analog or digital)
streams are combined into one signal over a shared medium.
Types of Multiplexing
Frequency Division Multiplexing

Time Division Multiplexing

Wavelength Division Multiplexing

Method for expanding Capacity

Installing more cables
Increasing system bitrates to multiplex more signals
Wavelength division multiplexing.

Evolution of DWDM

Late
1990s

Mid
1990s

Early
1990s
Late
1980s

64-160 channels
25-50 GHZ spacing
16-40 channels 100-200 GHz spacing
Dense WDM, integrated systems with
Network Management, add-drop functions.
2-8 channels passive
WDM 200-400 GHz spacing
WDM components/parts
2 channels Wideband
WDM 1310 nm, 1550 nm

Varieties of Wavelength Division Multiplexing

Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)
Having 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 channels.
usually has a distance limitation of under 100 kilometers.

Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM)

CWDM typically uses 20-nm spacing (3000 GHz) of up to 18 channels.
Within the range 1270 nm to 1610 nm spaced by 20 nm. Used in metro city (CATV).

Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM)

DWDM spaces the wavelengths more closely, may be 200, 100, 50, or 25 GHz
(0.8nm to 1.6nm, within the 1550 nm band) with a channel count reaching up to 128
or more, distances of several thousand kilometers. Typically start at 32 channels.

Wavelength Division Multiplexing

WDM allows for the combining of multiple optical TDM data streams
onto one fiber through the use of multiple wavelengths of light.
Each individual TDM data stream is sent over an individual laser
transmitting a unique wavelength of light.
WDM increases the carrying capacity of a fiber.

Single Fiber

Why DWDM ?

Number of fiber reduced

Data capacity of a fiber is enhanced
Number of Regenerator or Amplifier reduced
Capable of graceful capacity growth
No modification of overhead

Non DWDM Transmission

DWDM Transmission

Optical Transmission Bands

C BAND

Optical
Supervisory
Channel

BLUE
BAND
1500

1520

1530

L BAND
RED
BAND

1542 1547

1565

1625

ITU Frequency Grid

192.0

1561.42

Optical Networking
Connection between more then two networking devices with the help of
fiber optical cables for the sake of data transferring.
Faster as compared to other mode of transmission of data between
distances.
Optical networks can be used to supply internet, television, telephone
access.

Components of DWDM System

Terminal Multiplexer
Optical Cross Connects (OXCs)
Terminal Demultiplexer
Transceivers
Optical add-drop multiplexer
Intermediate line repeater
Optical Supervisory Channel (OSC).
Wavelength converting transponders

Components of DWDM System

Terminal Multiplexer
The terminal multiplexer contains one wavelength converting transponder.
transponders receive the input optical signal, convert that signal into the electrical
domain, and retransmit the signal using a 1550 nm band laser.
an optical multiplexer, which takes the various 1550 nm band signals and places
them onto a single fiber.

Terminal Demultiplexer
The terminal demultiplexer breaks the multi-wavelength signal back into individual
signals and outputs them on separate fibers for client-layer systems (such as
SONET/SDH) to detect.

Components of DWDM System

Optical add-drop multiplexer
Allow a specific wavelength on the fiber to
be demultiplexed (dropped) and remultiplexed
(added) while enabling all other wavelengths
to pass.

Optical Amplifiers
Optical amplifiers boost optical signals to
minimize the effects of power loss and attenuation.
The most common type of optical amplifier is the
erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). Conventional
EDFAs operate in the 1530 to 1560 nm range.

Components of DWDM System

Optical cross connects (OXCs):
An optical cross-connect (OXC) is a device used to switch high-speed optical signals
in a fiber optic network, such as an optical mesh network.
There may be three types of Optical cross connect
Opaque OXCs (electronic switching)
Transparent OXCs (optical switching)
Translucent OXCs (optical and electronic switching)

Components of DWDM System

Optical Supervisory Channel (OSC):
The OSC provides an out-of-band, full-duplex communications channel for remote
node management, monitoring and control.
An additional wavelength usually outside the EDFA amplification band is used.
Also used for remote software upgrades.
OSC Module is equipped with its own 1510 nm MUX/ DEMUX filter, the OSC travels
the same fiber as the DWDM stream.

Comparison of Transmission media

Particular

Coaxial

Microwave

Capacity

Upto 10800 channels

(60MHz) per pair of cable
core

Max of1800 analogue

and 1920 digital channels
per RF channels possible

1332 channels per

transponder

Appx 20000 channels

(1Gb/s)on a pair feasible

Maximum protection
arrangement have to be
made

Not required

Not required

Not required

Highly reliable

Increased maintenance
requirement

Require stringent
maintenance to reliability

Most reliable

Upto less than 1pw/Km

Higher

Higher

BER is very satisfactory

(upto 10)

Very Costly

Cheaper

Costlier than coaxial

system

Cheapest for higher no of

channels

More time consuming

Lesser

Least

Easier than that of

coaxial cables

4 Kms for L/T, 2 Kms for

S/T

About 40 Kms

1/3rd globe

40-45 Kms

Simpler and Straight

Detail Engineering
required

Detail Engineering
required

Simplest

Effect of
electromagnetic and
electrostatics
induction
Reliability

Noise performance

COST

Time for completion

Repeater spacing

Engineering of
system

Satellite

Optical Fiber

To be added in the slides

Mode field diameter

Cutoff wavelength
Acceptance angle
Acceptance cone
Comparision

Click to edit Master text styles

Second level
Third level

Fourth level

Fifth level

Thank You
Cognitel Training Services (P) Ltd.
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