FREE SHIPPING on Orders Over US$79
United States

DWDM/CWDM Wavelength ITU Channels Guide

LarryUpdated at May 4th 20231 min read

In the rapidly evolving field of optical communications, mastering wavelength management is crucial. This comprehensive guide provides the essential knowledge to navigate ITU channel grids, choose the right transceiver modules, and optimize your fiber optic network. Whether you are an experienced professional or a newcomer, this guide will help you fully leverage DWDM and CWDM technologies.
DWDM ITU Channels Overview
The DWDM region, as defined by the ITU G.694.1 standard, spans from 1528.77 nm to 1563.86 nm, mainly within the C band. DWDM channel plans may vary, but a common setup includes either 40 channels with 100 GHz (0.8 nm) spacing or 80 channels with 50 GHz (0.4 nm) spacing. Currently, DWDM systems operating within the 100 GHz DWDM C-Band typically follow a channel plan ranging from channels 17 to 61. For a more detailed overview, please refer to the DWDM Channel List below, which provides specific wavelengths and frequency intervals for each channel.
DWDM 100GHz ITU Grid
Channel
Frequency
Wavelength
Channel
Frequency
Wavelength
#
GHz
nm
#
GHz
nm
1
190100
1577.03
37
193700
1547.72
2
190200
1576.2
38
193800
1546.92
3
190300
1575.37
39
193900
1546.12
4
190400
1574.54
40
194000
1545.32
5
190500
1573.71
41
194100
1544.53
6
190600
1572.89
42
194200
1543.73
7
190700
1572.06
43
194300
1542.94
8
190800
1571.24
44
194400
1542.14
9
190900
1570.42
45
194500
1541.35
10
191000
1569.59
46
194600
1540.56
11
191100
1568.11
47
194700
1539.77
12
191200
1567.95
48
194800
1538.98
13
191300
1567.13
49
194900
1538.19
14
191400
1566.31
50
195000
1537.4
15
191500
1565.5
51
195100
1536.61
16
191600
1564.68
52
195200
1535.82
17
191700
1563.86
53
195300
1535.04
18
191800
1563.05
54
195400
1534.25
19
191900
1562.23
55
195500
1533.47
20
192000
1561.41
56
195600
1532.68
21
192100
1560.61
57
195700
1531.9
22
192200
1559.79
58
195800
1531.12
23
192300
1558.98
59
195900
1530.33
24
192400
1558.17
60
196000
1529.55
25
192500
1557.36
61
196100
1528.77
26
192600
1556.55
62
196200
1527.99
27
192700
1555.75
63
196300
1527.22
28
192800
1554.94
64
196400
1526.44
29
192900
1554.13
65
196500
1525.66
30
193000
1553.33
66
196600
1524.89
31
193100
1552.52
67
196700
1524.11
32
193200
1551.72
68
196800
1523.34
33
193300
1550.92
69
196900
1522.56
34
193400
1550.12
70
197000
1521.79
35
193500
1549.32
71
197100
1521.02
36
193600
1548.51
72
197200
1520.25
DWDM 50GHz ITU Grid
Channel
Frequency
Wavelength
Channel
Frequency
Wavelength
#
GHz
nm
#
GHz
nm
1
190.1
1577.03
37
193.7
1547.72
1.5
190.15
1576.61
37.5
193.75
1547.32
2
190.2
1576.2
38
193.8
1546.92
2.5
190.25
1575.78
38.5
193.85
1546,52
3
190.3
1575.37
39
193.9
1546,12
3.5
190.35
1574.95
39.5
193.95
1545.72
4
190.4
1574.54
40
194
1545.32
4.5
190.45
1574.13
40.5
194.05
1544.92
5
190.5
1573.71
41
194.1
1544.53
5.5
190.55
1573.3
41.5
194.15
1544.13
6
190.6
1572.89
42
194.2
1543.73
6.5
190.65
1572.48
42.5
194.25
1543.33
7
190.7
1572.06
43
194.3
1542.94
7.5
190.75
1571.65
43.5
194.35
1542.54
8
190.8
1571.24
44
194.4
1542.14
8.5
190.85
1570.83
44.5
194.45
1541.75
9
190.9
1570.42
45
194.5
1541.35
9.5
190.95
1570.01
45.5
194.55
1540.95
10
191
1569.59
46
194.6
1540.56
10.5
191.05
1569.18
46.5
194.65
1540.16
11
191.1
1568.11
47
194.7
1539.77
11.5
191.15
1568.36
47.5
194.75
1539.37
12
191.2
1567.95
48
194.8
1538.98
12.5
191.25
1567.54
48.5
194.85
1538.58
13
191.3
1567.13
49
194.9
1538.19
13.5
191.35
1566.72
49.5
194.95
1537.79
14
191.4
1566.31
50
195
1537.4
14.5
191.45
1565.9
50.5
195.05
1537
15
191.5
1565.5
51
195.1
1536.61
15.5
191.55
1565.09
51.5
195.15
1536.22
16
191.6
1564.68
52
195.2
1535.82
16.5
191.65
1564.27
52.5
195.25
1535.43
17
191.7
1563.86
53
195.3
1535.04
17.5
191.75
1563.45
53.5
195.35
1534.64
18
191.8
1563.05
54
195.4
1534.25
18.5
191.85
1562.64
54.5
195.45
1533.86
19
191.9
1562.23
55
195.5
1533.47
19.5
191.95
1561.83
55.5
195.55
1533.07
20
192
1561.42
56
195.6
1532.68
20.5
192.05
1561.01
56.5
195.65
1532.29
21
192.1
1560.61
57
195.7
1531.9
21.5
192.15
1560.2
57.5
195.75
1531.51
22
192.2
1559.79
58
195.8
1531.12
22.5
192.25
1559.39
58.5
195.85
1530.72
23
192.3
1558.98
59
195.9
1530.33
23.5
192.35
1558.58
59.5
195.95
1529.94
24
192.4
1558.17
60
196
1529.55
24.5
192.45
1557.77
60.5
196.05
1529.16
25
192.5
1557.36
61
196.1
1528.77
25.5
192.55
1556.96
61.5
196.15
1528.38
26
192.6
1556.56
62
196.2
1527.99
26.5
192.65
1556.15
62.5
196.25
1527.6
27
192.7
1555.75
63
196.3
1527.22
27.5
192.75
1555.34
63.5
196.35
1526.83
28
192.8
1554.94
64
196.4
1526.44
28.5
192.85
1554.54
64.5
196.45
1526.05
29
192.9
1554.13
65
196.5
1525.66
29.5
192.95
1553.73
65.5
196.55
1525.27
30
193
1553.33
66
196.6
1524.89
30.5
193.05
1552.93
66.5
196.65
1524.5
31
193.1
1552.52
67
196.7
1524.11
31.5
193.15
1552.12
67.5
196.75
1523.72
32
193.2
1551.72
68
196.8
1523.34
32.5
193.25
1551.32
68.5
196.85
1522.95
33
193.3
1550.92
69
196.9
1522.56
33.5
193.35
1550.52
69.5
196.95
1522.18
34
193.4
1550.12
70
197
1521.79
34.5
193.45
1549.72
70.5
197.05
1521.4
35
193.5
1549.32
71
197.1
1521.02
35.5
193.55
1548.91
71.5
197.15
1520.63
36
193.6
1548.52
72
197.2
1520.25
36.5
193.65
1548.11
72.5
197.25
1519.86
FS DWDM Transceiver Modules Quick View
FS DWDM transceivers are available with C17-C61 100 GHz DWDM wavelengths, and C17-C61 50 Ghz DWDM wavelengths, including DWDM SFP, DWDM SFP+, DWDM XFP, and Tunable DWDM transceivers that support transmission distance up to 100 km. Tunable DWDM transceivers are able to support a specific channel in a DWDM optical network, allowing for remotely wavelengths change in software.
40KM DWDM Modules
80KM DWDM Modules
100KM DWDM Modules
FS DWDM Mux/Demux
DWDM Mux/Demux is made to multiplex and demultiplex multiple DWDM channels into one or two fibers. It can extend the bandwidth of optical communication network with low cost and long transmission distance up to 1000 kilometers, which makes it an ideal long-haul network solution. FS offers DWDM Mux/Demux in different channal numbers and single or dual fiber types.
Product Description
Line Type
Wavelength
Channel Spacing (GHz)
Dual Fiber
C21-C28, C29-C36, C53-C60,
100
Single Fiber
C21-C35, C22-C36
100
Dual Fiber
C21-C36
100
Single Fiber
C21-C36, C45-C60
100
Dual Fiber
C21-C60
100/150
Dual Fiber
C15-C62.5
50
CWDM ITU Channels Overview
ITU-T G.694.2 defines 18 wavelengths for CWDM transport ranging from 1270 to 1610 nm, spaced at 20 nm apart. The complete CWDM ITU grid is shown below in the CWDM channel chart. Each CWDM channel is transparent to the speed and type of data, meaning that any mix of SAN, WAN, voice, and video services can be transported simultaneously over a single fiber or fiber pair.
CWDM Channels
ITU Channel No.
Wavelength (nm)
Latch Color by Wavelength
27
1270
29
1290
31
1310
33
1330
35
1350
37
1370
39
1390
41
1410
43
1430
45
1450
47
1470
49
1490
51
1510
53
1530
55
1550
57
1570
59
1590
61
1610
FS CWDM Transceiver Modules Quick View
FS CWDM transceivers are available with all 18 CWDM wavelengths, including CWDM SFP, CWDM SFP+, CWDM XFP and 3G SDI CWDM SFP modules. These CWDM transceivers can be applied in data transmission spanning 20 km to 120 km.
20KM CWDM Modules
40KM CWDM Modules
80KM CWDM Modules
120KM CWDM Modules
FS CWDM Mux/Demux
In addition to the various CWDM transceivers, FS also provides a wide range of CWDM Mux/Demux, which acts as the major building block in network expansion and upgrade. FS CWDM Mux/Demux comes in several different types in regard to line type, channel number, and special port.
Product Description
Line Type
Wavelength
Dual Fiber
1270-1330nm
Single Fiber
1550-1610nm
Dual Fiber
1270-1450nm, 1470-1610nm
Single Fiber
1270-1590nm, 1290-1610nm
Single Fiber
1270-1590nm, 1290-1610nm
Dual Fiber
1270-1610nm
FAQs about DWDM/CWDM Wavelength Channels
Q1: How Does the Scalability Potential of DWDM and CWDM Differ?
CWDM offers support for 18 channels, making it suitable for moderate bandwidth over shorter distances. On the other hand, DWDM provides high scalability with 96 channels, owing to its finer channel spacing and broader wavelength range, thus catering to large-scale networks with high bandwidth demands and longer transmission distances.
Q2: When Considering Between DWDM/CWDM and Deploying More Fibers, What Factors Should Be Weighed?
The optimal choice depends on project-specific needs. While deploying more fibers may seem simpler, it comes with limitations on scalability and physical space. Conversely, DWDM/CWDM offers scalability and more efficient utilization of fiber resources.
Q3: What Are the Advantages of Single vs. Dual Fiber Passive Setups in DWDM or CWDM Systems?
Dual fiber setups typically offer twice as many channels compared to single fiber setups, making them a preferred choice. However, single fiber configurations may be considered if there are constraints on fiber availability.
Q4: How Do the 10 G, 25 G, and 100 G Solutions for Long-Distance Traffic in DWDM/CWDM Networks Differ?
The choice between 10 G, 25 G, and 100 G solutions depends on bandwidth requirements, scalability, and the availability of transceivers capable of reaching desired distances. For instance, while 10 G setups are suitable for distances up to about 80 km, 25 G solutions can reach 20-30 km, albeit with limited availability for longer distances. Meanwhile, 100 G passive setups are feasible within specific ranges and may require amplification techniques for longer distances.
Conclusion
DWDM and CWDM technologies are indispensable for expanding fiber optic networks, efficiently meeting the escalating demands of data transmission while maximizing existing infrastructure. This article comprehensively covers ITU channel grids, optical transceiver modules, transmission distances, and multiplexing/demultiplexing products provided by FS. Additionally, it includes detailed information about the ITU channel list. These advancements not only enhance network bandwidth and extend transmission ranges but also drive down operational costs. Whether establishing long-haul backbone networks or optimizing metropolitan area networks (MAN), the selection of the appropriate DWDM or CWDM solution significantly influences performance and scalability. We strive for this guide to provide invaluable insights and guidance for navigating complex fiber optic environments successfully. Should you require further technical support or have inquiries, please don't hesitate to contact our expert team.