BRIEF: Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM)
Emerging Technology
Bandwidth demands are growing exponentially. “Leading service providers report bandwidth doubling on their backbones every six to nine months,” (Cisco Systems, 2001, p. 3-1). The options are either to provide faster transmission rates of data or virtually or physically larger bandwidth “pipes.” Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) affords for a virtual expansion of the fiber optic lines that can be expanded or contracted as needed—if aligned with emergent cloud computing efforts, it could provide an economical solution for cost-constrained IT budgets.
Imagine near unlimited growth and throughput capabilities of current and future Internet traffic. Such a technology has been in development for more than a decade, and leverages existing technology embedded in fiber optic technologies. The future advent of DWDM is almost too simple in concept to be believed. “Dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) is a technology that puts data from different sources together on an optical fiber, with each signal carried at the same time on its own separate light wavelength,” (Rouse, 2007).
Instead of transmitting on an individual wavelength of “white light,” what if we could take advantage of all the sub-wavelengths from Infrared through Ultraviolet. That would provide nine additional major color-light frequencies, and more specifically it would provide “…up to 80 (and theoretically more) separate wavelengths or channels of data can be multiplexed into a lightstream transmitted on a single optical fiber,” (Rouse, 2007) . While a nearly unknown technology in the public arena, DWDM has the greatest potential to enhance both personal and mission-related productivity of the private and public sector IT demands for more and faster data delivery in all its varied forms.
STRENGTH: Affords ability to expand bandwidth throughput without adding additional fiber optic cabling.
WEAKNESS: Ongoing work to assure varied wavelengths (channels) are multiplexed without no loss or corruption of data.
CITES:
Cisco Systems. (2001, June 4). Introduction to DWDM Technology. Retrieved from Cisco Systems: https://www.cisco.com/application/pdf/en/us/guest/products/ps2011/c2001/ccmigration_09186a00802342cf.pdf
Rouse, M. (2007, July). Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM). Retrieved from Search Telecom: http://searchtelecom.techtarget.com/definition/dense-wavelength-division-multiplexing
Walrand, J., & Varaiya, P. (2000). High Performance Communications Networks, 2nd Ed. Berkley: Morgan Kaufmann Publishers. Retrieved from Columbia University: http://www.ee.columbia.edu/~bbathula/courses/HPCN/chap04_part-3.pdf
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Ms. Columbus has worked in the Intelligence Community (IC) for over 20 years. She retired from the US Air Force in 2014 after working as a Senior Advisor providing authoritative advice on all aspects of Cyberspace operations, force structure and organizational concepts. She oversaw strategic support activities to enable the right mix of cyber capabilities for future operations.
