Did you know that tolerances tighten and margins for error shrink as operators send fiber deeper into their networks for higher speed and capacity?
That means quality is crucial, and every network component must improve its performance.
Let’s examine what fiber optical passive components are and how they can help service providers increase speed and bandwidth.
We’ll also look at how these devices can improve the delivery of high-quality, high-speed broadband to many subscribers.
- Multiplexers
Optical signals travel from the headend to the transition point or directly to the subscriber via wavelengths.
A multiplexer combines these wavelengths onto one fiber to travel the distance. They are then demultiplexed near the destination and separated.
- Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)
WDM is a technology that combines and transmits many wavelengths on a single cable. Depending on the number of channels to be multiplexed, WDM can be employed in several different ways.
The advantage of WDM is that it is less complex and inexpensive to implement, allowing for higher speeds and bandwidth capacity without requiring any additional fibers.
- Coarse Wave Division Multiplexing (CWDM)
CWDM can fit up to 18 channels on a single fiber while maintaining a 20 nm channel space. Due to its lower cost, CWDM is a more cost-effective alternative to complex dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) architectures.
Low-density, short-run situations are ideal for CWDM. It’s also appropriate for networks with no plans to expand in the future.
- Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM)
When capacity and reach are crucial, DWDM is the best option. To increase the capacity of fibers, DWDM enables a significant number of channels in a smaller band.
DWDM C-band channels are capable of reaching distances of over 40 kilometers.
The strict tolerances of DWDM necessitate the employment of complex transceivers and very sensitive filters and prisms in the passive devices; therefore, installations are often more expensive than CWDM.
- Band Wavelength Division Multiplexing (BWDM)
BWDM modules combine groups of wavelengths onto a single optical fiber. A BWDM divides groups of channels rather than single channels and is particularly well suited to MDU or business park applications where there are often more dense groupings of customers.
- Optical Add Drop Multiplexing (OADM)
The OADMs operate by deleting and rerouting certain wavelengths for specific destinations as the remaining signals proceed down the trunk.
OADMs are excellent when dedicated wavelengths are required to service enterprises or clusters of subscribers.
- Optical Splitters
By dividing the signal symmetrically into 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, or 128 divisions, operators can share the cost of expensive optical components among a significant number of customers.
In line with the optical link budget, these divisions can also be cascaded to divide the number of splits into smaller, optimum serving areas.
Optical splitters are often employed to extend optical signals to customer residences in FTTx, and passive optical networks (PONs) are implemented at the headend/central office and the outside plant.
Optical splitters come in a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on the application.
Optical passive components are essential for a network’s efficient and cost-effective operation. Working with a professional can assist you in optimizing your optical networks to get the most out of your fiber infrastructure.
