What exactly is Wavelength Division Multiplexing?
Wavelength Division Multiplexing is a technology that combines optical signals, called wavelengths, on a single fiber. WDM uses a multiplexer to combine signals being transmitted over the fiber and a demultiplexer to separate the wavelengths on the receiving end. There are two different types of WDM, dense and coarse wavelength division multiplexing.
Each type uses a different pattern to space the wavelengths, which determines how many channels you can use on the fiber.
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, more than 80 separate wavelengths or channels of data can be multiplexed into a light stream and transmitted on a single optical fiber.
Coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) is a method of combining multiple signals on laser beams at various wavelengths for transmission along fiber optic cables. The number of channels is fewer than in DWDM.
If a company wants to implement fiber, how does it get started?
If a company wants to implement fiber, it should first evaluate its needs. What, exactly, do you need to do? Consolidate storage? Save on costs? Streamline user accessibility? Add backup or restore capabilities? Speed up access to information? All of the above?
Then you need to determine if your needs justify the cost of fiber. If the answer is yes, where is the fiber needed? Same building? Remote locations?
If the installation of the fiber is not in the same room or building, a specialist will likely need to be called in to give the company an estimate of running and splicing the fiber optic cable.
Are there any drawbacks to fiber?
Implementing fiber optics is typically more expensive than traditional copper wire solutions. Not only is the cost of the cable itself more expensive, it has to be fusion spliced, that is the method of connecting fibers together using heat, which is more expensive than connecting copper wires.
That being said, the technical benefits of fiber optics more than justify the cost. Once you have fiber optics in place, you will be technically set to grow your network as your business needs without the cost of replacing existing wires.
Dave Elsbernd is a sales engineer for Time Warner Cable Business Class. Reach him at or [email protected] or (513) 386-5544.
