Optical Wavelength Band 101: Definition, Classification and Application

Introduction

The rapid growth of network traffic is driving the need for higher capacity and density optical transmission systems, all of which rely on significant advances in fiber optic communications. Fiber-optic communication is mainly carried out in wavelength regions with low fiber transmission losses. These so-called wavelength regions are the subject of this post: Optical Wavelength Transmission Band.

This post will introduce the concept of Optical Wavelength Transmission Bands, provide their classification, and explain their applications. Additionally, this post will answer some frequently asked questions.

What is an Optical Wavelength Transmission Band?

An Optical Wavelength Transmission Band is a portion of the optical spectrum allocated for optical fiber telecommunications. It is also referred to as an optical band, optical wavelength band, or simply wavelength range. The fiber defines these Optical Wavelength Transmission bands to achieve longer distances, higher speeds, and WDM. This optical band allows fiber cable and transmission devices to operate more efficiently.

Based on the wavelength range, the Optical Wavelength Transmission Band can be classified into six categories: O-Band, E-Band, S-Band, C-Band, L-Band, and U-Band.

Now let us introduce those 6 Optical Wavelength Transmission Bands in detail.

• O-Band: O-Band is standard for the Original band. The O-Band Optical Wavelength Transmission Bands start at 1260nm and extend to 1360nm. O band is mostly utilized for Passive-Optical Network (PON) and high-speed Ethernet transmission. Due to its low fiber dispersion, it provides high-speed optical communication.
• E-Band: E-Band is short for Extended band. The E-Band Optical Wavelength Transmission Bands start at 1360nm and extend to 1460nm. The E band beams are focused narrowly to reduce site interference. Due to its significant attenuation, it is the wavelength band with the lowest frequency.
• S-Band: S-Band is short for Short band. The S-Band Optical Wavelength Transmission Bands start at 1460nm and extend to 1530nm. A significant number of PON systems utilize the S-Band band. The industries of aerospace, aviation, and maritime employ it most frequently for radar and satellite communication purposes. The S-band offers an efficient way to deliver real-time data, even if substantial antenna systems are necessary for optimal performance.
• C-Band: C-Band is short for the Conventional band. The C-Band Optical Wavelength Transmission Bands start at 1530nm and extend to 1565nm. C-band is the most commonly used Optical Wavelength Transmission Band for WDM applications. Because of its low chromatic dispersion, it can transmit much higher data rates over much longer distances than any other Optical Wavelength Transmission Band.
• L-Band: L-Band is short for the Long band. The L-Band Optical Wavelength Transmission Bands start at 1565nm and extend to 1625nm. L-band is suitable for the long-haul and submarine fiber optic cable systems. In these applications, its low attenuation enables it to transmit data over long distances with minimal signal degradation. One crucial application scenario n is DWDM systems.
• U-Band: U-Band is short for the Ultralong band. The U-Band Optical Wavelength Transmission Bands start at 1625nm and extend to 1675nm. U-band is utilized in fiber optic amplifier systems. In these systems, its low noise characteristics enable it to amplify signals with very little noise.
• 850nm Band: in addition to the above standard bands, there is one more wavelength band, the 850nm band. When paired with VCSEL, the 850nm band is the dominant wavelength for multimode fiber optical communication systems (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser). The low cost and compactness of VCSELs have made them the preferred choice for short-range data communications applications such as Ethernet and Fibre Channel.

FAQs about Optical Wavelength Transmission Band

Q: What bands are using currently for CWDM networking?

A: The most common Optical Wavelength Transmission Bands used for CWDM applications are the S-band, C-band, and L-band. To expand the existing fiber infrastructure capacity, we can sometimes use O-band or E-band.

Q: What bands are using currently for DWDM networking?

A: The most common Optical Wavelength Transmission Bands used for DWDM applications are the L-band. Because L-band has the lowest attenuation, it can transmit data over very long distances with much less signal degradation.

Q: What is the difference between wavelength band and spectrum?

A: The Optical Wavelength Transmission Band is a range of optical frequencies, while the spectrum is the full range of frequencies. The Optical Wavelength Transmission Band is a portion of the spectrum.

Q: How many lambda are in DWDM system?

A: Multiple lambda circuits can be projected on fiber strands using the DWDM (dense wavelength division multiplexing) technique. Currently, 200 lambdas per fiber are typical, but thousands are feasible.

Q: What is the meaning of WDM?

A: WDM (wavelength-division multiplexing) is a technology that combines and transmits two or more optical signals on a single fiber by using different colors of light, also known as wavelengths. WDM is used extensively in long-haul fiber optic systems.

Conclusion

This article introduces the various Optical Wavelength Transmission Bands used in fiber optic communications. Each band has its unique characteristics and is suitable for different applications. To choose the right band for your application, it is crucial to understand the difference between them.