2009 R&D 100 Winner
Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) places each data channel on a different wavelength (frequency) of light, making it possible to send many channels of data over the same fiber. The Huawei Optix OSN 6800/OSN 3800 wavelength division multiplexer (with Geographically Distributed Parallel Sysplex support) developed by Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, China, and approved by IBM for network applications, provides dense WDM for independent data channels using any protocol. It can increase the amount of traffic carried on computer networks by hundreds of times and save millions of dollars per year on fiber costs, according to the developers. The wavelength spacing for this product is 0.8 nm, or about 100 Ghz. Independence from any one protocol provides a selection of fiber optic interfaces to attach any type of voice or data communication channel. It can also re-time the signals to reduce noise and increase the unamplified transmission distance up to 100 km. A network equipped with this technology is fault tolerant and self-healing with protection switching.
Technology
Wavelength division multiplexer
Developer
Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.
