Citation
(2004), "New ITU standards for CWDM", The Electronic Library, Vol. 22 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/el.2004.26322aab.019
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2004, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
New ITU standards for CWDM
New ITU standards for CWDM
ITU delegates from government and industry have agreed on a new global standard that will allow network operators to increase the capacity of optical fibre. The standard, created in response to industry needs, was developed under ITU's fast track approval process – AAP (Alternative Approval Process).
The standard – ITU-T Recommendation G.695 – applies to a technology called coarse wave division multiplexing (CWDM), used most often in metropolitan networks. In today's cost-conscious telecommunications market CWDM is seen as a cheaper and simpler alternative to dense wavelength division multiplexing. Less expensive uncooled lasers may be used in CWDM products because of wide channel spacing. These lasers require less precise wavelength control, as well as lower-cost passive components.