100G Duplex LC in core networks
When migrating your core network to 40G or 100G using LC Duplex, there are two non-standard solutions available: BiDi and Short Wavelength Division Multiplexing. Both are based on proprietary solutions, not supported by IEEE. They are popular in data centres because they are heavily supported by Cisco and Arista, and Cisco still has the majority of the switching calls into a data center. Typically one-supplier solutions, these can lock the customer into a proprietary environment, but both are fully supported by Nexans.
Short Wavelength Division Multiplexing offers a new LC-based migration concept. The technology multiplexes 4 optical carrier signals onto a single optical fibre by using 4 different wavelengths of laser light. Nexans’ OM5 fibre is optimised for short division multiplexing and allows multiple short wavelengths in the 850-950nm range. Unlike OM3 and OM4 fibres, which are only optimised at 850nm, OM5 fibres can carry at least four wavelengths, thereby quadrupling capacity.
OM5 is targeted at upcoming high speed applications for 40G and 100G that will use Short Wavelength Division Multiplexing. The result is a cable infrastructure based on LC connectivity rather than the existing protocols that require parallel optics with MTP connectivity.
OM5 fibre is designed to provide backwards compatibility with OM4, with a similar modal bandwidth of 4700MHz at 850nm. Its 50µm core offers a user-friendly solution for installation in data centres and enterprise with regard to connectivity, maintenance and cleaning.