Characterization of Fiber Optic Networks for High-Speed Time-Division-Multiplexed and Dense Wavelength-Division-Multiplexed Transport
10 January 2003
The demand for bandwidth generally creates an increased demand for network capacity. The telecommunications industry has responded to this demand with the design and deployment of new DWDM (Dense Wave Division Multiplexed) and High-Speed TDM (Time Division Multiplexed) lightwave systems with transport rates from 40 Gbps to 1.6 Tbps. These higher data rates and narrower channel spacings make it necessary to examine impairments such as continuity, dispersion, and distortion, in order to qualify network performance, especially in uncharacterized and/or non-standard plants. This strategy supports the optimization of optical link designs, increasing the probability of successful deployment and enabling the maximum capacity and performance for those networks. In this paper, methods and procedures for the characterization of fiber optic networks are developed, data and results from field experiences are described, and the effect and impact on typical network configurations are discussed.