For most people, the term “wavelength” is something that got left behind after 4th-grade science class along with amplitude, frequency and all that other stuff about electromagnetic properties. Well, if that term has long since been shoved to the back of your mind, it’s time to dig it out. As it turns out, optical wavelengths are a crucial consideration for today’s digital business landscape — so let’s dig into this service to better understand how it can add value to your organization.
Optical wavelengths are a network service that helps users leverage high-bandwidth, point-to-point internet connections. This high-bandwidth result is accomplished with a strategy called dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM for short), which allows a single strand of fiber to be segmented into multiple channels.
Still not sure about it? Let’s break it down even further.
The Power Behind DWDM
Let’s start with this question: What is multiplexing? Put simply, multiplexing is a word for sending multiple information streams over a single network link simultaneously. Think of it like a single street becoming a multi-lane highway — without needing any additional space. By doing this, the density and bandwidth of the fiber are increased, making it more effective for data-intensive organizations that are looking to deliver bigger, better and more fulfilling experiences for both themselves and their customers.
DWDM’s effectiveness comes from the fact that it utilizes tighter wavelengths, which allows it to fit more channels in one place than before. What makes it even better is that the quality and security of the signals being sent along these wavelengths aren’t affected since none of the signals interfere and are effectively partitioned, even despite their tight spacing. This makes it a great solution even for security-focused verticals like healthcare, finance or government. Plus, DWDM can send signals effectively over long distances, making it a must-have for maximizing network scalability.
Ultimately, DWDM presents a major advantage compared to previous network strategies, like Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) which can’t support as many channels in the same fiber strand. Fiber-optic cable wavelengths streamline data transfers and increase bandwidth speed up to 100 Gbps, supporting businesses’ high transport speed demands without the cost and complexity of owning and operating a dedicated network infrastructure.
How to Deal in Density
So, it’s clear why DWDM is a great service to consider for any digital business looking to optimize the core of their IT at the network level — what’s next? Next is finding a great partner to help you leverage it.
Horizon knows that businesses require specific speeds, configurations, security levels, and levels of latency, which is why we’re dedicated to delivering the right wavelength service for every use case. We are a proven partner that offers one of the newest, most state-of-the-art fiber-optic networks to our customers, plus a local team with 125 years of experience in the Midwest and beyond.
Our wavelengths don’t just deliver remarkable, flexible, and customizable speed over 144-strand to 288-strand fiber cables, they also are cost-efficient, supported with a local NOC, and are highly secure, redundant and resilient. It’s the best of all worlds.
No matter your business vertical, your organizational goals, your customer requirements or your network preferences, we’re here for you. If you’re looking for the next frontier of network efficiency, scalability and more, look no further than the wavelength.
To learn more, visit our wavelength services page here.