What does WDM stand for?

• WDM stands for wavelength division multiplexing, a technique used to send multiple channels of data over the same cable in fiber-optic transmission.
• Fiber-optic cables transmit data via pulses of light, which contain a range of wavelengths or colors. WDM enables each pulse to carry data from different sources on multiple wavelengths.
• With WDM, a single fiber strand may carry up to 80 channels of data.
   

WDM has been a mainstay of fiber-optic networking for more than 20 years, but many people are still are unclear about its definition and benefits. What does WDM stand for, exactly, and what advantages does it offer to an organization? Here’s a short primer on “What does WDM stand for?” that provides some answers.

What does WDM stand for?

WDM stands for wavelength division multiplexing, a technique that allows a single fiber strand to carry multiple channels of data simultaneously. WDM uses different wavelengths or colors of laser light to combine and transmit data from different sources on a single optical fiber.

WDM refers both to a category of technologies that includes coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) and dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM), and to a specific technology also known as normal wavelength division multiplexing.

What does WDM stand for vs. CWDM?

Normal WDM uses just two wavelengths of light to transmit data on a single fiber. CWDM uses up to 18 channels and is most often used for cable runs of less than 70 kilometers.

What does WDM stand for vs. DWDM?

DWDM provides up to 80 simultaneous channels. Unlike CWDM, connections in DWDM can be amplified to send data over much longer distances.

What does WDM stand for in terms of cost savings?

WDM enables organizations to cost-efficiently increase bandwidth as network requirements expand, without investing in dedicated networks.

What does WDM stand for when providing bandwidth?

The greatest advantage of WDM is its ability to increase bandwidth. With DWDM, for example, each of the 80 channels on a single fiber strand can carry data at 2.5 Gbps, equaling 200 billion bits per second. Fiber cables typically are comprised of hundreds of fiber strands, allowing a single fiber-optic cable to carry multiple terabits of data per second.

What does WDM stand for in terms of scalability?

WDM provides nearly unlimited scalability for organizations expanding their fiber-optic networks.

What does WDM stand for with Spectrum Enterprise?

Spectrum Enterprise, a leading provider of fiber solutions for America’s businesses, provides WDM technology in Spectrum Enterprise Wavelengths. Wavelengths is a lit Layer 1 service that cost-efficiently provides multilocation networking with low-latency bandwidth and the security and dependability of a private network.