What Is Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)?



Wavelength Division Multiplexing, usually written in short form as WDM, is an advanced technology that enables you to multiplex (combine) a number of optical carrier signals onto a single optical fiber by utilizing various wavelengths of laser light. This technology allows for bidirectional, as well as multidirectional communication over a single fiber. 

In a WDM system, a multiplexer is used at the transmitter to combine various signals together and a demultiplexer is used at the receiver to split those signals apart. If you have the right type of fiber, a device can do both simultaneously and can work as an optical add-drop multiplexer.

WDM systems are available in three standard types:

·       WDM (normal)

·       CWDM (coarse)

·       DWDM (dense)

 A normal WDM is sometimes also referred to as BWDM as it typically uses two wavelengths 1310 and 1550nm on one fiber. While coarse WDM provides up to 16 channels across multiple transmission windows of silica fibers, typical DWDM systems use 40 channels at 100Hz or 80 channels at 50GHz spacing and channel plans can vary.

However, dense WDM uses the C-Band i.e. 1530-1565nm transmission window and the spacing between channels is narrower (i.e. dense).

On the other hand, there are also new amplification options such as Raman amplification that allows the usable wavelengths to be extended to the L-band.

Fused WDM

When the term “fused WDM” is used, it means this WDM system uses fused biconical taper technology. Fused fiber-optic WDMs are available in different varieties, such as:

·       2-wavelength fiber WDM

·       3-wavelength fiber WDM

·       4-wavelength fiber WDM

·       PM Fiber WDM

·       Infrared wavelength WDM

·       Visible/NIR Wavelength WDM 

When shopping online, you can buy 980/1550nm fused WDMs in standard central wavelengths. However, at DK Photonics, you can also order customized fused WDM.

You can buy fused WDM for UV/visible, visible, visible/NIR, and IR wavelengths. While infrared-wavelength WDMs are used for combining pump and signal powers or for combining/splitting telecom signals, Visible/NIR-wavelength WDMs are used for multicolor displays, microscopy, and sensors.

In general, fused WDM can be used in long-haul telecommunication, digital, hybrid, and am-video systems, CATV systems and fiber optic sensors, high-speed local area networks (LAN), etc.

Wrapping Up

Fused Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM) systems are widely used for transporting large amounts of data between sites. This technology helps increase bandwidth so that different data streams can be sent at the same time over a single optical fiber network. This way, WDM allows the maximization of the usefulness of the fiber and optimization of network investments.


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