Facing competitive pressures and rapidly accelerating user demand for interactive services, cable operators need to upgrade their network architectures. These upgrade requirements are pushing optical fiber deeper into the network. But simply replacing existing transmission lines with fiber is no longer the most cost-effective way to handle increasing bandwidth requirements. Operators are now taking advantage of advances in optical filtering that significantly increase the number of signals (or wavelengths) that can be carried on a single fiber, a process known as interoperable multi wavelength (iWDM).

The iWDM plan consists of 16 wavelengths in the C-band in the range of ITU 21 through ITU 62. While there are predefined offsets for some of the 16 wavelengths, the multiplexer and demultiplexer of optical signals can continue to be supported through standard ITU optical passives as the offsets are within the guard band of the passive - typically 0.12 nm.

Cisco Prisma® interoperable multi-wavelength optics passives multiplexer and demultiplexer components (Figure 1) are essential when iWDM is implemented to increase network efficiency by significantly reducing fiber counts. Most units are available in the industry-recognized, LGX-compatible form factor to allow easy, snap-in mounting in a variety of enclosures and cabinets.

Features

• Cisco Prisma Interoperable multi wavelength multiplexer and demultiplexer modules (available in 4-, 8-, and 16-channel configurations)

• Channels spaced at 100 GHz, following the standard ITU wavelength grid

• Wavelength-mapping options that allow broadcast and narrowcast services to be combined on a single fiber

• Support for both analog and digital forward-path transmission applications, as well as reverse-path transmission applications, such as baseband digital reverse, to significantly increase bidirectional throughput

• Module for multiplexer and demultiplexer applications

• LGX-compatible modules that easily snap into a wide variety of enclosures and cabinets

• Industry-standard SC/APC adapters that help ensure connector compatibility; reduce back reflection and insertion losses; simplify moves, adds, and changes; and reduce connector maintenance requirements