DWDM Principles

ZTE University
Contents

 WDM Overview
 Optical Fiber Transmission character
 Key technologies of DWDM
 Technical Specifications
WDM Definition & Relationship with Other Services

WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing ) technology

is a fiber communication technology transmitting
multiple optical carriers with information on one fiber.
DWDM Features

 Large transparent transmission capacity greatly saves fiber resources.

 Each wavelength can carry different signal: SDH 2.5Gbps, 10 Gbps, ATM, IP, etc.
 Through super-long distance transmission technologies, the transmission cost is
reduced.
WDM Products Deploy in Network
eNB

2G/3G
Base
BSC/RNC S-GW
station PTN/IP RAN
MSTP
eNB S-GW
eNB
eNB

Enterprise OTN Backbone

Customer OTN 40/80x100G 80x100G WDM deploy in
40x10G network

Enterprise
OTN Enterprise Aggregate Metro Core Customer
Customer
Layer
Splitter
Internet

OLT BRAS RadiusServer

IPTV DCN

DSLAM Fix Network

multicast
FTTX Switch SR CR
MSAG
WLAN
EPG Server
WDM Classification

 CWDM: Coarse Wavelength Division

Multiplexing
 DWDM : Dense Wavelength Division
Multiplexing
WDM Classification
 CWDM: Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing
 DWDM : Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing

DWDM

S-Band C-Band L-Band

O-Band E-Band

1290 131013301350 1380 1400 1420 1440 1470 1490 1510 1530 15501570 15901610

(nm)

CWDM
DWDM System

Optical Transmitter OLA Optical Receiver

Ch 1 λ1 λ1 Ch 1
OTU1 OMU OTU1

ODU
Input ┇ ┇ Output
BA LA PA
Ch N λs λs λs λs Ch N
OTUn OTUn
λn λn

OSC

OSC OSC

EMS
Common NE in DWDM System
Client side Line side

λ1
λn

λ1 Line side Line side

λn

OTM
λ1 λn λ1 λn
Line side Line side
Client side

OADM

OLA
 DWDM Development Trend

Large
Intelligent Sustainable
Capacity

 Optical /
 From 10G to
Electrical layer
400G  FOADM /
protection
 Multi-Services ROADM
 Equipment
access (SDH,  WASON
protection
Ethernet, ATM, Control plane
 WASON
POS etc)
protection

•Large transparent transmission capacity greatly saves fiber resources.

•Through super-long distance transmission technologies, the transmission cost is
reduced.
Contents

 WDM Overview
 Optical Fiber Transmission Character
 Key technologies of DWDM
 Technical Specifications
Optical Fiber & Type
Coating Cladding Core

Optical fiber consists of a cylindrical

glass core, a glass cladding and a
plastic wear-resisting coating.
n2 n1

FC SC LC
Transport Characteristics of Optical Fibers

Attenuation

Dispersion

Non-liner Effect
1. Attenuation

 It is the reduction of signal strength or light power

over the length of the light-carrying medium.
 Fiber attenuation is measured in decibels per
kilometer (dB/km).
Intrinsic & Impurity
Absorbency Attenuation

Scattering Absorbency
Attenuation

Additional Attenuation
Division
3.0
of Low-loss Window
~ 140THz
2.5
~ 50THz
OH - assimilate peak
2.0
Fiber Loss OH - assimilate peak
（dB/km） 1310
1.5 1550
I II V III IV

1.0 850 OH - assimilate peak

0.5
O E C L Lanbda（nm）
S
0
800 1000 1200 1400 1600
O Band Original 1260-1360 nm
E Band Extended 1360-1460 nm
• Theoretical Value : 0.19－0.35
S Band Short 1460-1530 nm
dB/km,
C Band Conventional 1530-1565 nm
• Engineering Value :
L Band Long 1565-1625 nm 0.275dB/km
U Band Ultra-long 1625-1675 nm
Feature Comparison between Low-Loss Windows

Window I II III IV V

1360 ~ 1530
Mark (nm) 850 1310 (O band) 1550 (C band) 1600 (L band)
(E + S bands)

Wavelength
600~900 1260~1360 1530~1565 1565~1625 1360~1530
range (nm)

MMF/G.652/G G.652/G.653/ G.652/G.653/

Fiber type MMF Full-wave fiber
.653 G.655 G.655

Short Short
Applications distance and distance and Long distance and high rate
low rate low rate
 2. Dispersion
SMF
power power

time time
Input optical pulse Output optical pulse

As the optical pulse signals are transmitted for long

distance, the pulse wave shape spreads by time
Dispersion
at the fiber output end, this phenomenon is called
dispersion.

(ps) = D (ps/ nm*km) * S (nm) * L (km)

Kind of Dispersion

CD ---- Chromatic Dispersion

PMD ---- Polarization Mode

Dispersion
Chromatic Dispersion

1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
Input Time

1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
Output
Time

 Optical signals of different wavelength have different speeds in the

optical fiber, and this will cause a phenomena called dispersion.
 Chromatic dispersion is the result of material dispersion, waveguide
dispersion.
Influences of Chromatic Dispersion

 1) Pulse spreading
 A major influence of chromatic dispersion to system
performance. When transmission distance is longer
than fiber dispersion length, pulse spreading is too large.
At this time, the system will have serious inter-symbol
interference and bit errors.
 2) Chirp effect
 Dispersion not only results in pulse spreading but also
makes pulse generate phase modulation. Such phase
modulation makes different parts of the pulse make
different offset from the central frequency with different
frequencies.
Dispersion Tolerance

 Parameter of dispersion tolerance for laser source

(Ds)
 Dispersion parameter for optical fiber (D)
 Longest transmission distance: Ds/D

 Example:
 If Ds = 12800 ps/nm, SMF(G.652), dispersion is D = 20
ps/km/nm，and then the longest transmission distance
of this optical source is 640km.
Polarization Mode Dispersion

 This problem occurs because the fiber is not consistent along its length.
Due to bending and twisting, as well as temperature changes, the fiber
core is not exactly circular. The result is that the modes in the fiber
exchange power with each other in a random fashion down the fiber
length, which result in different group velocities; the signal breaks up.
In effect, the light travels faster on one polarization plane than another.
 Due to geometrical and pressure asymmetry, two polarization modes
have different transmission rates, resulting in delay and PMD.
 In digital transmission system, PMD will result in pulse separation and
pulse spreading, degrade transmission signal and limit transmission
rate of carriers.
3 Non-linear Effects

Four Wave Mixing (FWM)

Self-phase Modulation (SPM)

Cross-phase Modulation (XPM)

Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS)

Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS)

1. Four Wave Mixing (FWM)

1 2 3 1 4 2 3

 FWM refers to a physical process of energy f

exchange between multiple optical carriers
caused by the non-linear effect of fiber, when
multiple frequencies of optical carriers with high
power are simultaneously transmitted in the fiber.
 FWM results in optical signal energy attenuation in
multiplexing channels and channel crosstalk.
2. Single Phase Modulation (SPM)
Intensity
Light Intensity

Pulse width before Optical spectrum

transmission before transmission

refractive index
Intensity

Optical Signal Phase

Pulse width after Optical spectrum after Modulation
transmission transmission

 Due to dependency relationship between refractive index and light

intensity, refractive index changes during optical pulse continuance,
with pulse peak phase delayed for both front and rear edges.
 With more transmission distance, phase shift is accumulated
continuously and represents large phase modulation upon certain
distance.
 As a result, spectrum spreading results in pulse spreading, which is
called SPM .
3. Cross Phase Modulation (XPM)

The Signal Phase

Refractive of Refractive of
Modulation of
channel A change. channel B change.
channel B.

 When two or more optical waves with different frequencies

are simultaneously transmitted in a non-linear media, the
amplitude modulation of each frequency wave will result in
the corresponding change of the fiber refractive index,
resulting in non-linear phase modulation of the optical
wave with other frequencies, which is called XPM.
 Decrease the Influence of XPM:
 Increase the channel space.
 Reduce the signal power .
4. Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS)
P P

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
 
Input Output

 SRS affect results in attenuation of signals with short

wavelength and reinforcement of signals with long
wavelength.
 Decrease the Influence of SRS:
 Keep the optical power balance of each site.
 Reduce the signal power .
5. Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS)

Scattering Power

Output Power
Input Power

 For intense beams (e.g. laser light) travelling in a medium such as an optical fiber, the
variations in the electric field of the beam itself may produce acoustic vibrations in the
medium via electrostriction or radiation pressure. The beam may undergo Brillouin
scattering from these vibrations, usually in opposite direction to the incoming beam, a
phenomenon known as stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). For liquids and gases,
typical frequency shifts are of the order of 1–10 GHz (wavelength shifts of ~1–10 pm for
visible light). Stimulated Brillouin scattering is one effect by which optical phase
conjugation can take place.
Common Types of SMF

Dispersion non-shifted fiber, has a nominal zero-

G.652 dispersion wavelength in the 1310 and 1550 nm window.

Dispersion-shifted fiber, zero dispersion at 1550 nm

G.653
window, easy to cause FWM.

1550nm low attenuation，1310nm zero-dispersion,

G.654 mainly used in SOFC (Submarine Optical Fiber Cable)

Non-zero dispersion fiber, used in 1550 nm window. Less

G.655 dispersion coefficient, dispersion limited transmission
distance can be hundreds of km; prevent FWM.
Contents

 WDM Overview
 Optical Fiber Transmission character
 Key technologies of DWDM
 Technical Specifications
 Key Technologies of DWDM Modules
Optical Mutiplexer Optical Amplifier Optical Demutiplexer

Optical Transmitter Optical Receiver

OLA

Ch 1 λ1 λ1 Ch 1
OTU1 OTU1
OMU

Input

ODU
┇ BA LA PA ┇ Output

Ch N λs λs λs λs Ch N
OTUn OTUn
λn λn

OSC

OSC OSC
Optical Source
(Optical Transponder)

The Supervision Of
WDM System
EMS
1 Optical Transponders

 Using O-E-O to realized the optical conversion

Receive Transmit WDM Lambdas
Client Side
Module Module Output
Access
(O/E) (E/O)

Supervise & Communication

Circuit System

Supervision Board

 Requirements of Optical Source:

 Larger dispersion tolerance value.
 Standard and stable wavelength.
Efficient Integrated Wavelength Feedback
Control Technology
Integrated Wavelength Feedback Control Technology (IWF)

 Realize 5GHz wavelength accuracy by application of IWF

 Automatically adjust each wavelength shift to make the system in best state
 In 80/160 waves system, 20% of OTU cost can be saved by using IWF

Modify Request
OWM SNP

Adjust Control
ZXONM

……
OTU OTU OTU OTU OTU

OMU
2 Optical Muliplexer and Demultiplexer
Multiplexer Demultiplexer

Fiber

 Diffraction Grating
 Thin Film Filter (TFF)
 Array Waveguide (AWG)
 Coupling Type
Diffraction Grating
1,2,3,...n

1
2
3
4
n

 Optical signals with different wavelengths have different reflecting

angles on grating, it divides and combines the optical signals with
different wavelengths. It has sound wavelength selection performance,
capable of narrowing wavelength interval to about 0.5 nm.
 Advantaged: wavelength interval less than 0.5nm, insertion loss will
not increased by the increased of multi-channel.
 Disadvantaged: the temperature stability is sensitive.
Thin Film Filter (TFF)
 1,2,3,...n
1

3

2


4




 It consists of dozens layers of dielectric films with different materials,

different refractive indexes and different thickness values. One layer
features high refractive index and the other layer features low
refractive index, therefore emerging a passband within certain
wavelength range and a stopband within other wavelength ranges.
 Advantaged: low insertion loss, high temperature stability, the flat of
signal passband.
 Disadvantaged : channel quantity is limited, manufacture complicated.
Array Waveguide (AWG)

 It is essentially a multistage, multi cross-connect wavelength coupler.

The delay lines between the two sides cause different phase shifts for
different wavelength and therefore different wavelengths from one
input appear at different outputs.
 By coupling each input to all outputs and controlling the characteristics
of the coupling, a wavelength at any input can be coupled to a selected
outputs.
 Advantaged: easy to volume production, support large amount of
channels, small dimensions of module. Widely used in WDM system.
 Disadvantaged: Need temperature compensation.
Coupling Type
λ1

λ2

λ3

λ4

λ5
λ 1，2，3……
λ6

λ7

λ8

 It is a surface interactive device with two or more fibers

which are closed to each other and are properly melted.
 Advantaged: Good temperature performance, good
optical channel passband, easy to volume production.
 Disadvantaged: large dimensions of module, can only
multiplex and can’t demultiplex.
Relationship between DWDM Systems and
Typical OM/OD
Multiplex De-multiplex
Type
32 40 80 32 40 80

Coupler √ - - - - -

AWG √ √ - √ √ -

TFF √ √ - √ √ -

DG - - √ - - √
Key Performance Indices

Represents the quantity of optical channels multiplexed/

Multi Channel
demultiplexed made by the OM/OD, closely related to
Quantity resolution and isolation of the device.

Channel Represents the isolation distance between multiplexed

Isolation optical channels in the optical devices.

The attenuation effect of OM/OD to optical signals directly

Insertion Loss
affects system transmission distance.
Key Performance Indices

The ratio between the reflection optical power and

Reflection
incidence optical power at the input end of the OM/OD.
Coefficient Smaller coefficient is preferable.

Channel bandwidth at -0.5 dB describes the passband

feature of the OD.
Bandwidth Channel bandwidth at -20 dB describes the stopband
feature of the OD.
3 Optical Amplifier
 Its development overcame the biggest barrier on high speed long
distance transmission - receiving optical power limit.
 It amplifies all the wavelength at once and without optical-electrical-
optical conversion.
Classifications of Optical Amplifier

Resonance Type
Semiconductor OA {
{ Progressive Wave Type

Lanthanon Doped FA {
1550 nm fiber amplifier (EDFA)

Fiber amplifier
{ Non-linear FA {
1310 nm fiber amplifier (PDFA)
Raman FA (SRA)

Brillouin FA (SBA)
EDFA Composition

Erbium
Doped Fiber
Isolator Isolator

Coupler
PIN POUT

Used to suppress light Used to combine

reflection to ensure signal light with
pump light The optical signal stimulates
stable working of the
Pump the unstable Erbium ions to
optical amplifier
Laser release the excess energy as
photons in phase and at the
same wavelength.
Generates pump light that As this process continues
stimulates the erbium atoms down the fiber, the signal
to release their stored energy Pump light is typically grows stronger.
as additional 1550 nm 1480 nm or 980 nm
The EDFA Pump Light Classification

 Pump Light Source：980nm & 1480nm

980nm Low Noise

High efficiency and large power output

1480nm
but high noise.
EDFA Working Principle

N3 ~0 at
980 nm
Fast non-radiation decay
Pump level

1550 nm N2 at Metastable
980 nm pump Signals Level
Amplified
1480 nm Signals
pump Plus ASE
N1 at
Ground
Level
Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA)
λ1 λ1

λ2
λ2
O O
• M •
M
• U •
U
• •
OBA OLA OLA OPA
λn λn

 EDFA includes:
 Optical Booster Amplifier (OBA) - high optical output
power.
 Optical Line Amplifier (OLA) - compensate the loss of
the transmission line.
 Optical Pre Amplifier (OPA) - low noise.
Key Performance Indices
 1.Gain (G)
 The ratio between output optical signal power and input optical
signal power.
 2.Noise Figure (NF)
 The ratio between SNR at EDFA input end and SNR at output end.
 3.Bandwidth
 The working wavelength range of DWDM system covers C and L
bands. The optical amplifier needs to amplify all the multiplexing
channel signals of the system, so its bandwidth should be wide
enough.
 4.Gain flatness
 The allowed fluctuation of EDFA gain within the specified working
band range. For the sake of sound flatness, aluminum doped
technology is usually used in the EDF.
 Key Performance Indices
output spectrum of EDFA,Psignal=93.2766 PASE+=0.56514
Ptotal=93.8417mw
10

0
spectrum/dbm

-10 Before using

-20 Gain flatness
-30

-40

-50
1520 1525 1530 1535 1540 1545 1550 1555 1560 1565 1570
wavelength/nm
output spectrum of EDFA,Psignal=81.3068 PASE+=0.46032 Ptotal=81.7671mw
5
0
spectrum/dbm

-5
-10 After using
-15
-20 Gain flatness
-25
-30
-35
-40
-451520 1525 1530 1535 1540 1545 1550 1555 1560 1565 1570
wavelength/nm
Key Performance Indices

 4.Total input/output power range

 The optical power range at the input/output end of the
EDFA .
 5.Input/output optical reflectance
 The ratio between optical power at the EDFA
input/output end and reflection optical power.
Problems of EDFA

 Optical Surge
 Non-liner Effect
 Bandwidth
 Dispersion
Problems of EDFA
 Optical Surge
 Under normal condition, the erbium ions stimulated by the pump light are carried off
by the signal light, and thus implement amplification of the signal light. If the signal
light is interrupted, the metastable ions still converge continuously, so energy
transient will occur leading to optical surge.

R0 T1 A R2 T3
LA LA LA LA

A B
Multiplexing Multiplexing

T0 R1 T2 R3
LA LA LA LA

OTS

OMS

To solve this, Automatic Power Reduction (APR) or Automatic Power

Shutdown (APSD) function is implemented in the EDFA.
Problems of EDFA
 Non-linear effect
 When the optical power is increased to a certain degree, fiber non-
linear effect will occur. Therefore, in the use of fiber amplifier, it is
required to control the value of the in-fiber optical power in a single
channel.
 Bandwidth
 Bandwidth refers to the range of the optical wavelength which can
be amplified flatly. The working wavelength range of the EDFA in C
band is 1530 nm ~ 1561 nm, and in L band is 1565 nm ~ 1625 nm.
 Dispersion
 As transmission distance increase, the total dispersion increases
correspondingly. Therefore, the current-free relay segment in WDM
system cannot be prolonged limitlessly. We can prolong the
current-free relay distance of the multiplexing section through
dispersion compensation measures.
4 Supervision System
OMU OBA OLA OLA OLA OPA ODU

OSC OSC OSC OSC OSC

ODU OMU

OPA OLA OLA OLA OBA

 Detection, control and management are basic requirements of all
network operations.
 To ensure secure operation of DWDM system, physically, the
monitoring system is designed as an independent system separated
from working channels and devices.
 Used to transmit the NE management and supervision information
related to DWDM system
Functions

 1.Fault alarm
 2.Fault location
 3.Quality parameter supervision in the operation
 4.Control over backup line upon line interruption
 5.EDFA supervision.
Requirements of OSC
 1.It can’t restrict the optical wavelengths (980 nm and 1480 nm) of the
pump light source in the optical amplifier.
 2.It cannot restrict the transmission distance between two LAs.
 3.It cannot restrict the services on the 1310 wavelength.
 4.It should still be available upon failure of the LA.
 5.OSC transmission is bidirectional to ensure the supervision
information can be received by the line terminal when one fiber is
broken.
 6.OSC transmission segment can be dropped on each optical amplifier
relay station and DWDM system office station and added with new
supervision signals.

Take 1510nm as preferential OSC Channel

Contents

 WDM Overview
 Optical Fiber Transmission character
 Key Technologies of DWDM
 Technical Specifications
DWDM Technical Specifications

 Integrated DWDM System

Open DWDM System
 Working Wavelength
 Main Optical Parameter
Integrated System & Open System
155MSDH Open
622MSDH
2.5G SDH G.692
O
10G SDH
PDH T
IP U O
ATM
M
155MSDH
622MSDH
U
G.692
2.5G SDH
10G SDH
PDH
IP
ATM
Integrated

OTU: Optical Transponder Unit

OMU: Optical Multiplexing Unit
Working Wavelength in 1550nm Window

 C Band: 1530nm~1565nm
 L Band: 1565nm~1625nm
Working Wavelength of DWDM System

8/16/32/40-wavelength
system

 Working wavelength range: C band (1530 nm ~ 1565

nm)
 Frequency range: 192.1 THz ~ 196.0 THz
 Channel interval: 100 GHz
 Central frequency offset: ±20 GHz (at rate lower than
2.5 Gbit/s); ±12.5 GHz (at rate 10 Gbit/s)
Wavelength Allocation of 40CH/100GHz Interval on C Band
No. Central Frequency (THz) Wavelength (nm)
1 192.1 1560.61
2 192.2 1559.79
3 192.3 1558.98
4 192.4 1558.17
5 192.5 1557.36
6 192.6 1556.55
7 192.7 1555.75
8 192.8 1554.94
9 192.9 1554.13
10 193.0 1553.33
11 193.1 1552.52
12 193.2 1551.72
13 193.3 1550.92
14 193.4 1550.12
15 193.5 1549.32
16 193.6 1548.51
17 193.7 1547.72
18 193.8 1546.92
19 193.9 1546.12
20 194.0 1545.32
Wavelength Allocation of 40CH/100GHz Interval on C Band
21 194.1 1544.53
22 194.2 1543.73
23 194.3 1542.94
24 194.4 1542.14
25 194.5 1541.35
26 194.6 1540.56
27 194.7 1539.77
28 194.8 1538.98
29 194.9 1538.19
30 195.0 1537.40
31 195.1 1536.61
32 195.2 1535.82
33 195.3 1535.04
34 195.4 1534.25
35 195.5 1533.47
36 195.6 1532.68
37 195.7 1531.90
38 195.8 1531.12
39 195.9 1530.33
40 196.0 1529.55
Working Wavelength of DWDM System

80 -wavelength system

 Working wavelength range: C band (1530 nm ~ 1565

nm)
 Frequency range: C band (192.1 THz ~ 196.0 THz)
 Channel interval: 50 GHz
 Central frequency offset: ±5 GHz
Wavelength Allocation of 80CH/50GHz Interval on C Band
No. Central Frequency (THz) Wavelength (nm)
1 196.05 1529.16
2 196.00 1529.55
3 195.95 1529.94
4 195.90 1530.33
5 195.85 1530.72
6 195.80 1531.12
7 195.75 1531.51
8 195.70 1531.90
9 195.65 1532.29
10 195.60 1532.68
11 195.55 1533.07
12 195.50 1533.47
13 195.45 1533.86
14 195.40 1534.25
15 195.35 1534.64
16 195.30 1535.04
17 195.25 1535.43
18 195.20 1535.82
19 195.15 1536.22
20 195.10 1536.61
Working Wavelength of DWDM System

160 - wavelength system

 Working wavelength range: C band (1530 nm ~ 1565

nm) + L band (1565 nm ~ 1625 nm)
 Frequency range: C band (192.1 THz ~ 196.0 THz) + L
band (190.90 THz ~ 186.95 THz)
 Channel interval: 50 GHz
 Central frequency offset: ±5 GHz
Optical Parameter－Power

 Watt (W)
 The unit of power. In optical transmission, power is
small, hence, it is expressed in milli-watt (mW).
 Decibel (dB)
 The logarithmic ratio between the output power to the
input power.
 dB = 10log10 (POUTPUT / PINPUT)
 dBm
 Measurement of power in decibels using 1mW as the
reference point.
 Power in dBm = 10log10 (P / 1mW)
Optical Parameter－Attenuation

Fiber Type Multimode Singlemode

Wavelength (nm) 850 1310 1310 1550
Fiber
Attenuation
3~3.5 1~1.5 0.3~0.4 0.2~0.25
P1 P2 Coefficient (dB/km)
Cable Length (km) 2 2 2 2
Fiber loss=P1/P2 Total Fiber Loss (dB) 6~7 2~3 0.6~0.8 0.4~0.5
Optical Parameter－Gain

Optical Amplifier

P1 P2 Gain = P2 / P1 [mw]
Optical Parameter－OSNR

 OSNR:Optical signal-to-noise ratio

 OSNR = Pout – 10log(M - L + 58 - NF) - 10logN
 Pout: In-fiber optical power (dBm).
 M: Number of multiplexing channels of the WDM
system
 L: Loss between any two optical amplifiers, that is,
sectional loss (dB)
 NF: Noise index of the EDFA.
 N: Number of the EDFAs between optical multiplexer
and optical de-multiplexer of the WDM system.