A typical growth problem: the link between a POP and an IX or a data center needs more 100G ports, but every fiber in the cable is already lit, and new fiber means months of permits and civil works. Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) solves it by putting many services on the same fiber pair, each on its own wavelength.
How much capacity one fiber pair can carry
- DWDM in the C-band uses a 100 GHz or 50 GHz channel grid. The AAWG multiplexers in our catalog come in 40, 48, 80 and 96 channels.
- The DCI3100 is a 1RU integrated DWDM system with 16 × 100G QSFP28 ports: up to 1.6T per unit, and two units stack to 3.2T.
- It includes 1+1 line protection, 1+1 power backup and hot-swappable fans, and operates from −10 to 60 °C.
When a compact 1RU system is enough
For a point-to-point link between two sites with up to 16 × 100G services, an integrated 1RU system is the simplest option: one unit per site, no chassis to plan and few spare parts. For more sites, rings, mixed 1G/10G/100G services or long spans, a modular platform such as the OSP3800 or DCI5800 gives more room to grow.
Does the link need amplification?
That depends on the loss of the fiber, not only its length: connectors, splices and old fiber add loss. Measure the end-to-end loss with an OTDR or a power meter. If the budget is exceeded, EDFA amplifiers restore the signal; the catalog EDFAs cover booster (OBA), line (OLA) and pre-amplifier (OPA) roles, with 12 dB typical gain for OBA and 25 dB for OLA/OPA.
Plan for growth
Light a few channels now, add more later. Once the multiplexers are installed, each new 100G service is a new wavelength on the same fiber pair, with no change to the route. Choosing a multiplexer with more channels than you need today is the cheapest way to keep that option open, and it also leaves room to protect the route later with OLP over a second path.
What to send us
The two sites, fiber length and measured loss, the number and type of services (for example 8 × 100GE today, 16 later) and the equipment that connects to the link. We reply within 24 hours with a configuration.