Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) and Fiber Optic Technology

The increased demands on fiber optic networks toward the end of the twentieth century spurred a concern of fiber exhaust. The backbone communications companies such as AT&T, Sprint, and WorldCom, sought an economical alternative to installing new fiber which resulted in the emergence of a new transmission technology called Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM). The development of this new technology enabled companies to meet the macro capacity demands placed on existing networks by increasing data throughput from 2 Gbps to 40 Gbps and increasable to 200Gbps. This provides a widely scalable solution to companies seeking to alleviate their nearly exhausted fiber networks.
The information services that have permeated our society have become a product that we take for granted. The need for high availability and faster network response times has pushed the telecommunications backbone to its limits. …