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dense wavelength division multiplexing

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- Dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) is a technology that puts data from different sources together on an optical fiber, with each signal carried at the same time on its own separate light wavelength. Using DWDM, up to 80 (and theoretically more) separate wavelengths or channels of data can be multiplexed into a lightstream transmitted on a single optical fiber. Each channel carries a time division multiplexed (TDM) signal. In a system with each channel carrying 2.5 Gbps (billion bits per second), up to 200 billion bits can be delivered a second by the optical fiber. DWDM is also sometimes called wave division multiplexing (WDM).

Since each channel is demultiplexed at the end of the transmission back into the original source, different data formats being transmitted at different data rates can be transmitted together. Specifically, Internet (IP) data, Synchronous Optical Network data (SONET), and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) data can all be travelling at the same time within the optical fiber.

DWDM promises to solve the "fiber exhaust" problem and is expected to be the central technology in the all-optical networks of the future.

Learn more about Optical Networks

The physics of fiber in optical networks: "Optical Fibers," Chapter 5, from The Cable and Telecommunications Handbook looks at the evolution of optical fibers and the impact of convergence on optical networks.
Best practices for optical network design: Fiber-optic deployment has become the network technology of choice in metro and access networks, which means the list of best practices for fiber deployment is growing.
Working with optical networking's new capabilities: The optical networking strategy telecom service providers choose now will define the advanced services they can offer later and when they can expect ROI.
Weighing the value of optical/electrical network convergence: Telecom carriers must weigh several factors concerning optical and electrical network convergence to assess operations costs, network management capabilities and vendor hardware.
IP over dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM): Metro and core issues: It sounds like a good solution, but IP over DWDM in core and metro networks presents myriad issues, no matter the strong points. IP expert Ivan Pepelnjak walks you through it.

CONTRIBUTORS:	Herschel Salan and David Williams
LAST UPDATED:	31 Jul 2007

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More resources from around the web:

-	Web ProForum hosts a tutorial on DWDM from Lucent Technologies.

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Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary

optical fiber (SearchTelecom.com)

passive optical network (SearchTelecom.com)
A passive optical network (PON) is a system that brings optical fiber cabling and signals all or most of the way to the end user.

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