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CWDM and DWDM Tutorial - What is CWDM? What is DWDM?

  • CWDM and DWDM Tutorial - What is CWDM? What is DWDM? Fiber-Mart.com
  • Post on Wednesday 18 June, 2014
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Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) is a technique, which uses a special property of fiber-optics. This property allows the combination of multiple signals onto a single strand of fiber.


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CWDM and DWDM Tutorial

 

Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) is a technique, which uses a special property of fiber-optics. This property allows the combination of multiple signals onto a single strand of fiber. Each signal is assigned to a different wavelength of light. Since one wavelength does not affect another wavelength, the signals do not interfere. It is the technology enabling cost efficient upgrade of capacity in optical networks. Coarse WDM (CWDM) and Dense WDM(DWDM) are different wavelength patterns of WDM systems. This tutorial is going to compare CWDM and DWDM in many aspects covering features, transmission distance, applications and cost etc.

 

CWDM Introduction

CWDM, namely Coarse WDM, was introduced as a low-cost approach to increasing bandwidth utilization of the fiber infrastructure. By using several wavelengths (colours) of the light, 18 channels are viable in the spectrum grid from 1270 nm to 1610 nm with a 20 nm channel spacing which is defined in the ITU-T standard G.694.2. However, for different applications, there are different ITU-T standard to define the specific wave range and channels. For instance, according to the ITU-T G.695, CWDM increases fiber capacity in either 4, 8, or 16 channel increments. By increasing the channel spacing between wavelengths on the fiber, CWDM allows for a simple and affordable method of carrying up to 16 channels on a single fiber.

 

CWDM

 
Benefits of CWDM:
Passive equipment that uses no electrical power Much lower cost per channel than DWDM Scalability to grow the fiber capacity as needed with little or no increased cost Protocol transparent Ease of use

Drawbacks of CWDM:
16 channels may not be enough Passive equipment that has no management capabilities Costs significantly more per channel than BWDM
 

 

DWDM Introduction

Dense WDM (DWDM) is the technology of choice for transporting extremely large amounts of data traffic over metro or long distances in telecom networks. Optical networking and especially the use of DWDM technology has proven to be the optimal way of combining cost efficient transport with advanced functionality, which can cope with the bandwidth explosion from the access network.

DWDM typically has the capability to transport up to 80 channels (wavelengths) in what is known as the Conventional band or C band spectrum, with all 80 channels in the 1550 nm region. DWDM takes advantage of the operating window of the Erbium Doped Fibre Amplifier (EDFA) to amplify the optical channels and extend the operating range of the system to over 1500 km. This denser channel spacing requires tighter control of the wavelengths and therefore cooled lasers as opposed to Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) which has broader channel spacing un-cooled lasers.

 

DWDM

 
Benefits of DWDM:
Up to 32 channels can be done passively Up to 160 channels with an active solution Active solutions involve optical amplifiers to achieve longer distances

Drawbacks of DWDM:
DWDM solutions are quite expensive Active solutions require a lot of set-up and maintenance expense Very little scalability for deployments under 32 channels

CWDM vs DWDM

According to the respective introduction to CWDM and DWDM above, we know that CWDM is defined by wavelengths and DWDM is defined in terms of frequencies. This is the basic difference between these two kinds of technologies.

 

CWDM vs DWDM wavelengths

 

For applications, DWDM's tighter wavelength spacing fit more channels onto a single fiber, but cost more to implement and operate. CWDM match the basic capacities of DWDM but at lower capacity and lower cost. CWDM enable carriers to respond flexibly to divers customers needs in metropolitan regions where fiber may be at a premium. The point and purpose of CWDM is short-range communications. It uses wide-range frequencies and spreads wavelengths far apart from each other. DWDM is designed for long-haul transmission where wavelengths are packed tightly together. Vendors have found various techniques for cramming 32, 64, or 128 wavelengths into a fiber. DWDM system is boosted by Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier, so that to work over thousands of kilometers for high-speed communications.

 

The following table shows the comparison of CWDM and DWDM:

 

Specifications/Features CWDM DWDM
Full form Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing, WDM system having less than 8 active wavelengths per optical fiber Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing, WDM system having more than 8 active wavelengths per optical fiber
Characteristic Defined by wavelengths Defined by frequencies
Capacity lower higher
Cost low high
Distance short range communication long range communication
Frequencies uses wide range frequencies uses narrow range frequencies
Wavelength spacing more less, hence can pack 40+ channels compare to CWDM in the same frequency range
Amplification light signal is not amplified here light signal amplification can be used here

Fiber-Mart offers a variety of WDM optical network products, including CWDM or DWDM MUX/DEMUX, OADM (Optical Add Drop Multiplexer), WDM transceivers, optical amplifier as well as many related components etc. For more information, please contact us over [email protected].


 
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