Cisco Prisma Data Multiplexer /Demultiplexer - 4 Data Channels

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.