DWDM

DENSE WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEXING(DWDM)

CONTENTS
Definition Evolution Development of WDM Technology DWDM System Functions Components and Operation DWDM Networks Manufacturers DWDM Market Trends & Future Current Perspective

Definition
A Dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) system can be viewed as a parallel set of optical channels,each using a slightly different wavelength,but all sharing a single transmission medium.

DWDM Functions
Why DWDM
To increase the Transport capacity of the network

What it does
Transports more than one/multiple optical channels over a single optical fibre cable Transmits simultaneously multiple carriers of different wave lengths over a single fibre

Different wave length carriers are combined/multiplexed together in a passive optical coupler on the transmit end
Reverse happens at the receive end i.e.. decombining/demultiplexing takes place

- Enables transmission of data from different sources simultaneously at same time with different carrier wave lengths

DWDM Functions
DWDM is used to:
Provide cost effective migration from low capacity network to high capacity networks Offers flexibility,versatility, multi service platform, bit rate protocol independent,less expensive compared to SONET or SDH. Open doors to Ethernet systems like SAN(Storage area network),NAS(Network attached storage) Ideal for Metro networks as it can carry Ethernet on one wave length,SDH on another,HDTV(High definition TV) on another wave length Up to 80 separate wave lengths/channels of data can be transported Fibre carrying 2.5 Gbps(STM 16) can be made to carry 200 billion bits

EVOLUTION OF DWDM
Viability of Transmission of Light over Fiber Estbd Late Nineteenth Century LEDs & Laser Diodes as Light sources that was narrow & powerful invented-1960s First Communication Grade Fibers produced-1970 Use of Specific regions(windows) on the optical spectrum where attenuation is low developed-Early 1980s

Development of WDM Technology

1. Wideband WDM- 2 widely spaced wavelengths in the 1310nm & 1550nm regions used in the late 1980s. Narrowband WDM 2 to 8 channels were used at an interval of 400GHz in the 1550nm window in early 1990S Dense WDM 16 to 40 channels and spacing from 100 to 200 GHz in mid 1990s emerged. DWDM-64 to 160 parallel channels densely packed at 50 or even 25GHz intervals has evolved in late 1990s.

2.
3. 4.

PROGRESSION OF TECHNOLOGY

Increase in the number of wavelengths Decrease in the spacing of wavelengths. Increase in the carrying capacity of Fiber. Rate of increase went from a linear multiple of four every four years to four every year.

DWDM System

1.Generating the signal :The laser provides stable light within a specific narrow bandwidth that carries the digital data modulated as an analog signal. 2.Combining the signals:Multiplexers are employed to combine signals 3.Transmitting the signals:Variables like channel spacings,wavelength tolerance are controlled in fiber optics and signals are transmitted. 4.Separating & receiving signals:The multiplexed signals are separated & received by a photo detector.

Components and Operation

DWDM is a core technology in an optical transport network.The essential components can be classified by their place in the system as follows: -Transmit Side - a.Lasers with stable,precise wavelengths -Link Side a.Optical Fiber with high transmission and low loss performance b.Optical amplifiers to boost signal on longer spans -Receive Side - a. Photo detectors and optical demultiplexers using thin film filters or diffractive elements. b.Optical add/drop Multiplexers and optical crossconnect components.

Light Emitting Devices

I. Light Emitting Devices:
Light emitters are transmit side devices that convert electrical signals to pulse signals 1.Light Emitting Diodes -Used in Multimode fiber communications -Suitable for use of speeds less than 1Gbps -Exhibit a relatively wide spectrum width -Transmit light in a wide cone 2.Laser Diodes/Semiconductor Lasers -Used in Single Mode fiber applications -Have precise wavelengths -Narrow spectrum width -Sufficient power and control of chirp(change in frequency of a signal over time) -2 types widely in use: a.Monolithic Fabry Perot Lasers b.Distributed Feedback Lasers

Light Emitting Devices

Typical Laser Design:

Laser Diode chip emits light in one direction to be focused by the lens onto the fiber and in the other direction onto a photodiode which is angled to reduce back reflections into the laser cavity. This provides a way of monitoring the output of the lasers and providing feedback.

Light Detectors
II .Light Detectors:
They are receive side opto electronic devices that convert light pulses into electrical signals Two types of photo detectors are widely deployed: 1.Positive Intrinsic Negative(PIN): -Light is absorbed and photons are converted to electrons in a 1-1 relationship. 2.Avalanche Photodiode(APD): -One photon acting on the gain provided by amplification process releases many electrons APDs have higher receive sensitivity and accuracy PIN are less expensive and more reliable

Optical Amplifiers
III.Optical Amplifiers :
Due to attenuation ,there are limits to how long a fiber segment can propagate a signal with integrity before it has to be regenerated.Before the arrival of OAs,there had to be a repeater for every signal transmitted.

Optical Amplifiers
OA is a optical link that amplifies all the wavelengths at once and without optical-electrical-optical (OEO) conversion Also used to boost signal power after multiplexing or before demultiplexing,both of which introduce loss into the system Performs 3R on the signals-reshape,retime,retransmit Using OAs signals can travel upto 120Km (74mi) before regeneration. They are available in the C-band(1310nm) and L-band(1625nm) Signal to noise ratio is the ultimate limiting factor in the number of amplifiers that can be concatenated .Hence,low noise is a requirement as noise along with signal is amplified Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier(EDFA) -is a key enabling technology as it makes possible to carry the large loads that DWDM is capable of transmitting over long distances -Capable of gains of 30dB or more and output power of +17dB or more

Optical Amplifiers
Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier

Erbium is a rare-earth element that when excited emits light around 1.54micrometers-the lowloss wavelength for optical fibers used in DWDM A weak signal enters the erbium doped fiber into which light at 980nm or 1480nm is injected using a pump laser Injected light stimulates erbium atoms to release their stored energy as additional 1550nm As the process continues down the fiber,the signal grows stronger

Multiplexers & Demultiplexers

IV a) Multiplexers:DWDM systems send signals from several sources
over a single fiber.The multiplexer combines these incoming signals from the multiple fibers and converges them into one beam.

b) Demultiplexers:At the receiving end ,the system must be able to

separate out the components of light so they can be discreetly detected.The demultiplexer performs this function by separating the received beam into its wavelength components and coupling them to individual fibers. Unidirectional system Bi-directional system

Techniques for Multiplexing and Demultiplexing

a.Prism Refraction Demultiplexing: -A parallel beam of polychromatic light impinges on a prism surface;each
component wavelength is refracted differently.This is the Rainbow Effect. -In the output light,each wavelength is separated from the next by an angle. -A lens then focuses each wavelength to the point where it needs to enter a fiber. -Same components are used in reverse to multiplex different wavelengths onto one fiber.

Techniques for Multiplexing and Demultiplexing

b.Waveguide Grating Diffraction:
-When a polychromatic light source impinges on a diffraction grating,each wavelength is diffracted at a different angle and therefore to a different point in space. -Using a lens,these wavelengths can be focused onto individual fibers.

Techniques for Multiplexing and Demultiplexing

-Arrayed Waveguide gratings(AWGs) device -An AWG device (optical Waveguide router/Waveguide grating router)
consists of an array of curved channel waveguides with a fixed difference in the path length between adjacent channels. -The waveguides are connected to cavities at the input and output -When light enters the input cavity,it is diffracted and enters the waveguide array. -In the array ,the optical difference of each waveguide introduces phase delays in the output cavity,where an array of fibers is coupled -This results in different wavelengths having maximal interference at different locations ,which correspond to the output ports.

Techniques for Multiplexing and Demultiplexing

c. Multilayer Interference Filters:
-A different technology uses interference filters in devices called thin film filters or multilayer interference filters.By positioning filters,consisting of thin films,in the optical path,wavelengths can be sorted out(demultiplexed) -The property of each filter is such that it transmits one wavelength while reflecting others - By cascading these devices,many wavelengths can be demultiplexed

Optical Add/Drop Multiplexers

V. OADM:
Between multiplexing and demultiplexing points in a DWDM system,there is an area in which multiple wavelengths exist.To remove or insert one or more wavelengths at some point along this span,OADM are used. Selectively Removing and Adding Wavelengths

Optical Add/Drop Multiplexers

Types of OADM:
a.Thin Film Filters:This is a first generation fixed device that is physically configured to drop specific predetermined wavelengths while adding others It is used in current metropolitan DWDM systems because of their low cost and stability

b.Tunable Fiber Gratings: This is a second generation device which is reconfigurable and capable of dynamically selecting which wavelengths are added and dropped

Interfaces to DWDM
VI.Interfaces to DWDM:
-Most DWDM systems support standard SONET/SDH optical interfaces to

which any SONET/SDH compliant client device like OC-48c/STM 16c can attach at the 1310nm wavelength -In addition,other interfaces for MAN and Access Networks like : Ethernet ESCON Sysplex Timer and Sysplex Coupling Facility Links Fibre Channel are commonly supported -On the client side,there can be SONET/SDH terminals or ADMs,ATM Switches or routers -By converting incoming optical signals into precise ITU standard wavelengths to be multiplexed,Transponders are a key determinant of the openness of DWDM systems

Operation of a Transponder Based DWDM System

Anatomy of a DWDM System

Operation of a Transponder Based DWDM System

1. The transponder accepts input in the form of standard single-mode or multimode laser. The input can come from different physical media and different protocols and traffic types. 2. The wavelength of each input signal is mapped to a DWDM wavelength. 3. DWDM wavelengths from the transponder are multiplexed into a single optical signal and launched into the fiber. 4. A post-amplifier boosts the strength of the optical signal as it leaves the system (optional). 5. Optical amplifiers are used along the fiber span as needed (optional). 6. A pre-amplifier boosts the signal before it enters the end system (optional). 7. The incoming signal is demultiplexed into individual DWDM lambdas (or wavelengths). 8. The individual DWDM lambdas are mapped to the required output type (for example, OC-48 single-mode fiber) and sent out through the transponder.

Data Center Networking with DWDM

DWDM Networks

DWDM BackBone Networks

DWDM based BackBone network are divided into 3 classes:

1.Simple point-point DWDM Link

2.DWDM wavelength routing with electronic TDM

DWDM BackBone Networks

3.All optical DWDM network

a.Wavelength Switching DWDM Networks without TDM[1]

b.DWDM with optical domain TDM[2]

NEED FOR DWDM

The need for DWDM arose as Conventional Core Networks faced problems like:
Serious connectivity problems due to over stacking and over equipping Limited scalability features and upgrade capabilities Complex Infrastructure Limited connectivity between rings/sites Dense mass of cable connections Occupy enormous space

Advantages of DWDM
Advantages
TransparencyBecause DWDM is a 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. ScalabilityDWDM 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 provisioningFast, simple, and dynamic provisioning of network connections give providers the ability to provide high-bandwidth services in days rather than months. Flexible, agile, presents low capital cost, low operational cost and offers high revenue generation. As demands change, more capacity can be added, either by simple equipment upgrades or by increasing the number of lambdas on the fiber, Disadvantage Some types of older fiber are not suitable for DWDM use, while newer types, such as NZ-DSF, are optimized for DWDM.

DWDM Market
The market for DWDM components grew at a breathtaking rate of 65% until 2000 and has currently tapered off to about 33%. This market has grown from $550 million in 1996 to $4.3 billion in 2000. Lucent with its large market share in both the systems and components market will probably dominate the market and receive the larger orders. Nortel Networks is the recognized global DWDM optical Internet leader.

DWDM Component/System Manufacturers

Systems manufacturers :
Lucent, Ciena, Alcatel, Pirelli, Nortel, NEC, and Fujitsu

Component Manufacturers:
JDS Fitel, Gould, E-Tek, Instruments SA, Corning OCA, Ditech, DiCon, Sumito,Bosch
Components Subsystems

Couplers Multiplexers/Demultiplexers Filters Fiber Bragg Gratings Lasers Modulators Fiber Isolators Attenuators Circulators

Optical amplifiers Add drop Multiplexers Optical crossconnects Wavelength converters Transmitters

DWDM Terminal
High density optical interface with 640Gbps per bay Advanced out of band FEC providing up to 1500 km reach On-line SLAT (System Lineup and Testing) tool also guides the installation process, assisting the user from begin to end

Nortel Networks DWDM OPTera Metro Series

Current Trends in DWDM

There is a visible and definite move to the DWDM environmentworldwide, nations are shifting to DWDM. Europe and North America are already using In the Asia-Pacific region we are seeing penetration in Shanghai, Beijing, and several cities in China. Companies like SingTel in Singapore, companies in Australia are all deploying metro networks because it is a multi-services platform, bit-rate protocol independent, less expensive, and offers the capability to support new services. DWDM is going to be the trend and Ethernet is going to play an important role because of its ubiquity, commonality, and cost. Ethernet is going to be present in 98 percent of interfaces around the world. Ex-We can put 160, 10 GB channels on the same piece of fiber i.e. 1.6 terabytes and still expand further in the future when need arises.

Future of DWDM
DWDM will continue to provide the bandwidth for large amounts of data.The capacity of systems will grow as technologies advance that allow closer spacing, and therefore higher numbers of wavelengths. DWDM is also moving beyond transport to become the basis of all-optical networking with wavelength provisioning and mesh-based protection. Switching at the photonic layer will enable this evolution, as will the routing protocols that allow light paths to traverse the network. An all-optical infrastructure has been envisioned using mesh, ring, and pointto-point topologies at the optical layer to support the needs of enterprise, metropolitan access, and metropolitan core networks.

Future DWDM Networks

Current Perspective-Reliance Scenario

OPTera Long Haul 1600 Series

Thank You