Connect to Wavelength Management

Connect to wavelength management

As consumers purchase more and more devices (cell phones, televisions, laptops, etc.) communication networks supporting these devices need to evolve to supply enough bandwidth for the increasing demand. One of the leading technologies allowing network operators to increase network density while leveraging current infrastructure is wavelength-division multiplexers (WDM). The WDM devices are placed within fiber optic hardware solutions which are typically located within the central office, headend, and the outside plant (OSP). As networks continue to evolve, WDM solutions become critical in maximizing the density and functionality required for modern optical distribution networks. You may ask, how do WDM solutions work? Similar to how prisms break out the visible light spectrum, WDM devices combine or break out wavelengths on a single fiber, enabling you to maximize fiber usage. A multiplexer (mux) combines these wavelengths over the fiber. A demultiplexer (demux) takes the combined wavelengths separating these into the individual signals. Therefore, a mux and demux are used to transmit and receive wavelengths between devices to exploit the full range of capabilites of the fiber within the network.

Corning Optical Communications xWDM Series Brochure | CRR-946-AEN | Page 1 WDM Device Individual wavelengths, carrying different services and data, are either combined or separated with the use of a WDM, which has a series of thin-film filters inside (Photo 1).

Photo 1: Thin-Film Filter

The filters are tuned to allow specific bands of light (entered through the common port) to pass through (via the add/drop port) or be reflected off (via the reflect port) shown in Figure A. Individually tuned devices can be concatenated, creating a system that separates (demux) or combines (mux) multiple wavelengths one at a time, resulting in one signal separated into multiple frequencies, or multiple signals combined and carried over a single fiber (Figure B).

Adhesives and Filling Compounds

ADD/DROP COMMON

REFLECT

Figure A

COMMON λ1 Rx1 λ1+λ2+λ3+λ4

λ2 Rx2

λ3 Rx3

λ4 Rx4

EXP/UPG All Other Wavelengths Passed Through

Figure B

The WDM filters are placed into a device (CWDM and DWDM devices shown on next page). Dependent on the WDM type, the devices are then packaged in cassettes, modules, splice trays, etc. These different packages enable either splice or connectorized solutions.

Corning Optical Communications xWDM Series Brochure | CRR-946-AEN | Page 2 Types of Wavelength-Division Multiplexers (WDMs) In order to accommodate differing needs for carrier networks, multiple types of WDMs have been developed, most prominently the coarse WDM (CWDM) and dense WDM (DWDM). As mentioned in the prior section, the filters are tuned to bands in order to distribute services to the proper locations. Each type of WDM device operates within a specific band. CWDMs are wider channel devices that are useful in short distance applications with fewer channel obligations. DWDMs have narrower channel widths, allowing for more capacity with higher electronics costs.

Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM)

▄ CWDM devices function in any band (O-, E-, S-, C-, or L-band) between 1271 nm-1611 nm, with the S-, C-, and L-bands most commonly used ▄ Channel spacing (defined by wavelength): - 20 nm spacing = 18 channels

CWDM Facts

Max Active Wavelengths per Fiber 18

Application Space-constrained environments

Distance Shorter distances and/or smaller channel counts

Wavelength Structure Spread far apart

Light Signal Not amplified

Active Electronic Cost $

Transport Capability Up to 18 channels from 1271 nm to 1611 nm with a 20 nm channel spacing

Spectrum Larger sections

Lasers Uncooled lasers due to wider channel spacings

CWDM Bands Typically not used due to legacy water peak Most commonly used G/652.D ber can be wavelengths due to Legacy PON Architectures used (low water peak) lower ber attenuation

3 O-Band E-Band S-Band C-Band L-Band 1260-1360 1360-1460 1460-1530 1530-1565 1565-1625 2.5

Water peak

1.5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 6 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fiber Attenuation (dB/km) Attenuation Fiber

0.5

ITU-T G, 652 ber 0

Corning Optical Communications xWDM Series Brochure | CRR-946-AEN | Page 3 Dense Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (DWDM)

▄ DWDM devices are set to function in the C- and L-bands between 1531 nm-1611 nm ▄ Channel spacing (defined by wavelength and frequency): - 200 GHz = 1.6 nm spacing = 40 channels - 100 GHz = 0.8 nm spacing = 80 channels - 50 GHz = 0.4 nm spacing = 160 channels

DWDM Facts

Max Active Wavelengths per Fiber 160 High-density networks Application ▄ No space constraints Distance Long-haul and/or higher channel counts

Wavelength Structure Tightly packed

Light Signal Amplification may be used (EDFA; C-band)

Active Electronic Cost $$$ - laser performance Up to 80 channels with 100 GHz spacing and up to 160 channels with 50 GHz spacing in the Transport Capability C-band through L-band spectrum Spectrum Smaller sections

Lasers Cooled lasers due to tighter control of wavelengths

DWDM Bands

O-Band E-Band S-Band C-Band L-Band 1280-1360 1360-1460 1460-1530 1530-1565 1565-1625

Most common usage in C-Band (40 DWDM channels 1530-1565 nm)

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 6 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Corning Optical Communications xWDM Series Brochure | CRR-946-AEN | Page 4 Optimizing Fiber Due to the evolution of communication networks over the last 10 years, a major concern in today’s connected world is fiber exhaust, where the demands for fiber exceed the amount of available fiber in the network. WDM technology can alleviate fiber exhaust, by requiring fewer fibers to transmit and receive multiple services. Figure C demonstrates multiple signals transmitting over multiple fibers from one device to another. Figure D illustrates how multiplexing combines multiple channels at the transceiver device to transmit multiple signals over a single fiber. At the receiving device, a demultiplexer separates the signals. Overall, the use of WDMs allows you to take further advantage of your network, utilizing the untapped capacity of existing fiber, as well as the coexistence of multiple services across the same network.

Voice Voice

Data Data

Storage Storage

Voice Voice

Figure C

Voice Voice

Data Data

Storage Storage Multiplexor Storage Demultiplexer Storage

Voice Voice

Figure D

Corning Optical Communications xWDM Series Brochure | CRR-946-AEN | Page 5 WDM in Fiber Optic Hardware While WDMs work to optimize current fiber usage, when placed into fiber optic hardware, there are many configurations and functionalities that these devices can take on that determine the fiber requirements later in the network. Most commonly are dual or single functionality, where services and signals are sent over two fibers or one fiber respectively. A dual-function device has mux and demux capabilities over two fiber transmission (Figure D). A single function device has mux or demux capabilities over single-fiber transmission (Figure C).

Dual Functionality Seen in Figure E, dual functionality utilizes two fibers to transfer data to and from the end user. One fiber, at the top of Figure E, is used for downstream transfer while another fiber is devoted to upstream data. With this method, specific to this example, the same wavelength can be used for both directions of data traffic. From a hardware standpoint, Figure F shows that two common ports at different ends of the network are used for each direction of data traffic.

ISP OSP Field/Customer

Mux Demux COMMON Tx1 λ λ Rx4 1 λ1+COMλ2+λ3+λ4 1 COM COM COM COM COM

Tx2 λ2 1470 λ2 1470 Rx3 1470 1470 1470 1470 1490 1490 1490 1490 1490 1490 Tx3 λ3 λ3 Rx2 1510 1510 1510 1510 1510 1510 Tx4 λ4 λ4 Rx1 1530 1530 1530 1530 1530 1530 EXP/UPG EXP/UPG 1550 1550

Demux 1570 Mux 1570 COMMON Rx1 λ 1590 λ 1590 Tx4 1 λ1+λ2+λ3+λ4 1

Rx2 λ2 1610 λ2 1610 Tx3 EXP EXP EXP EXP EXP EXP Rx3 λ3 λ3 Tx2

Rx4 λ4 λ4 Tx1

EXP/UPG EXP/UPG Figure E Figure F

Single Functionality Seen in Figure G, single functionality transmits and receives all data in both directions on a single fiber. Due to the single-fiber use, now the downstream and upstream wavelengths must be different, to avoid interference during simultaneous transmission. Figure H illustrates an example of where the common ports are located on fiber optic hardware for single functionality. Instead of two common ports on each hardware device shown in Figure F, this figure only has one common port per hardware since it is leveraging one fiber instead of two.

ISP OSP Field/Customer

Mux COMMON Demux λ1+λ3+λ5+λ7 Rx1 λ1 λ8 Tx4 λ2+λ4+λ6+λ8 COM COM COM COM COM COM

Rx1 λ2 λ7 Rx4 1470 1470 1470 1470 1470 1470 1490 1490 1490 1490 1490 1490 Tx2 λ3 λ6 Tx3 1510 1510 1510 1510 1510 1510 Rx2 λ4 λ5 Rx3 1530 1530 1530 1530 1530 1530 Rx3 λ5 λ4 Tx2 1550 1550 Rx3 λ λ Rx2 6 3 1570 1570

Tx4 λ7 λ2 Tx1 1590 1590

Rx4 λ8 λ1 Rx1 1610 1610 EXP EXP EXP EXP EXP EXP EXP/UPG EXP/UPG

Figure G Figure H

Corning Optical Communications xWDM Series Brochure | CRR-946-AEN | Page 6 WDM Applications Service providers can leverage WDM technology in any part of their network including long-haul, metro, distribution, and access networks. As fiber demands in fiber to the home (FTTH), Cable TV (CATV), and long-haul networks increase with the rise of more connected technology, WDMs can fully utilize existing fiber by reducing the number of fibers required to transmit and receive signals. Because much of a network’s fiber constraints begin at the start of the network, WDM devices are frequently placed at the central office/headend, as demonstrated in the diagrams below.

FTTH Network

Distribution Splice TX/RX XWDM Frame Closures NAP NAP Home OSP OSP M S L N TX/RX Cable Cable Drop Vault Splitter LCP NID Splice CO Jumper Jumper

FTTH networks have relied on splitters and WDM devices for years. When evolving from a splitter-based PON to a next-generation PON technologies, more micro-optic devices are required for long-term future proofing of the network. These devices allow operators to reuse existing infrastructure while enabling more services to more customers.

CATV Hybrid Fiber COAX (HFC) Network

Business

Distribution TX/RX XWDM Frame AMP TAP Home OSP OSP M TX/RX Cable Cable CATV Node COAX Vault Splice Assemblty Splice Closures CATV Node Jumper Jumper Assembly w/MTP Child Node TAP Home M DWDM M TX/RX COAX CWDM Jumper

DWDM Jumper HE

Transformation is occurring within HFC networks due to movement away from traditional RF cabling. CATV networks are currently capacity-constrained which poses concern for network designers and installers. As the headend and the OSP transition to new network architectures, designers and installers can replace traditional coax with high-density fiber optic cabling, cross-connects, and DWDM devices.

Long Haul

Patch Patch Distribution Splice Panel Splice Panel Splice Distribution TX/RX XWDM EDFA Frame EDFA EDFA EDFA EDFA Frame EDFA XWDM TX/RX Closures D Closures D Closures OSP # # OSP # # OSP M C C M Cable # # Cable # # Cable Vault M M Vault Splice Splice CO Jumper Jumper Hut Jumper Hut Jumper Jumper Jumper CO

Legacy long-haul architectures have consistently leveraged WDM technology throughout their optical infrastructure. These technologies have provided cost savings and allow operators to service metropolitan, long-haul, and submarine networks.

Corning Optical Communications xWDM Series Brochure | CRR-946-AEN | Page 7 Are you Corning connected? 1-828-901-5000 (International) 800-743-2675 (United States and Canada) [email protected] www.corning.com/ISP

Corning Optical Communications LLC • PO Box 489 • Hickory, NC 28603-0489 USA 800-743-2675 • FAX: 828-325-5060 • International: +1-828-901-5000 • www.corning.com/opcomm Corning Optical Communications reserves the right to improve, enhance, and modify the features and specifications of Corning Optical Communications products without prior notification. A complete listing of the trademarks of Corning Optical Communications is available at www. corning.com/opcomm/trademarks. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. Corning Optical Communications is ISO 9001 certified. © 2019 Corning Optical Communications. All rights reserved. CRR-946-AEN / January 2019