DWDW wavelength Grid and Bands

In a previous article, I wrote about understanding what DWDM is. This article will dive into what channels and wavelengths are available in DWDM systems. DWDM systems adhere to a standardized wavelength grid, typically spaced at intervals of 0.8, 0.4, or even 0.2 nanometers. These channels are grouped into bands, such as the C-band (Conventional band) and the L-band (Long band), each accommodating a range of wavelengths within the spectrum.

• C-band: From 1530 to 1565 nanometers, it’s the most widely used band due to its compatibility with optical amplifiers and low fiber attenuation.

C-Band
100 GHz Grid		50 GHz Offset
nm	THz	nm	THz
1	1528.77	196.10	1529.16	196.05
2	1529.55	196.00	1529.94	195.95
3	1530.33	195.90	1530.72	195.85
4	1531.12	195.80	1531.51	195.75
5	1531.90	195.70	1532.29	195.65
6	1532.68	195.60	1533.07	195.55
7	1533.47	195.50	1533.86	195.45
8	1534.25	195.40	1534.64	195.35
9	1535.04	195.30	1535.43	195.25
10	1535.82	195.20	1536.22	195.15
11	1536.61	195.10	1537.00	195.05
12	1537.40	195.00	1537.79	194.95
13	1538.19	194.90	1538.58	194.85
14	1538.98	194.80	1539.37	194.75
15	1539.77	194.70	1540.16	194.65
16	1540.56	194.60	1540.95	194.55
17	1541.35	194.50	1541.75	194.45
18	1542.14	194.40	1542.54	194.35
19	1542.94	194.30	1543.33	194.25
20	1543.73	194.20	1544.13	194.15
21	1544.53	194.10	1544.92	194.05
22	1545.32	194.00	1545.72	193.95
23	1546.12	193.90	1546.52	193.85
24	1546.92	193.80	1547.32	193.75
25	1547.72	193.70	1548.11	193.65
26	1548.51	193.60	1548.91	193.55
27	1549.32	193.50	1549.72	193.45
28	1550.12	193.40	1550.52	193.35
29	1550.92	193.30	1551.32	193.25
30	1551.72	193.20	1552.12	193.15
31	1552.52	193.10	1552.93	193.05
32	1553.33	193.00	1553.73	192.95
33	1554.13	192.90	1554.54	192.85
34	1554.94	192.80	1555.34	192.75
35	1555.75	192.70	1556.15	192.65
36	1556.55	192.60	1556.96	192.55
37	1557.36	192.50	1557.77	192.45
38	1558.17	192.40	1558.58	192.35
39	1558.98	192.30	1559.39	192.25
40	1559.79	192.20	1560.20	192.15
41	1560.61	192.10	1561.01	192.05
42	1561.42	192.00	1561.83	191.95
43	1562.23	191.90	1562.64	191.85
44	1563.05	191.80	1563.45	191.75
45	1563.86	191.70	1564.27	191.65
46	1564.68	191.60	1565.09	191.55
47	1565.50	191.50	1565.90	191.45
48	1566.31	191.40	1566.72	191.35
49	1567.13	191.30	1567.54	191.25
50	1567.95	191.20	1568.36	191.15

• L-band: Covering wavelengths between 1565 to 1625 nanometers, it offers extended wavelength ranges, providing additional capacity and flexibility in optical networks.

L-Band
100 GHz Grid		50 GHz Offset
nm	THz	nm	THz
1	1568.77	191.10	1569.18	191.05
2	1569.59	191.00	1570.01	190.95
3	1570.42	190.90	1570.83	190.85
4	1571.24	190.80	1571.65	190.75
5	1572.06	190.70	1572.48	190.65
6	1572.89	190.60	1573.30	190.55
7	1573.71	190.50	1574.13	190.45
8	1574.54	190.40	1574.95	190.35
9	1575.37	190.30	1575.78	190.25
10	1576.20	190.20	1576.61	190.15
11	1577.03	190.10	1577.44	190.05
12	1577.86	190.00	1578.27	189.95
13	1578.69	189.90	1579.10	189.85
14	1579.52	189.80	1579.93	189.75
15	1580.35	189.70	1580.77	189.65
16	1581.18	189.60	1581.60	189.55
17	1582.02	189.50	1582.44	189.45
18	1582.85	189.40	1583.27	189.35
19	1583.69	189.30	1584.11	189.25
20	1584.53	189.20	1584.95	189.15
21	1585.36	189.10	1585.78	189.05
22	1586.20	189.00	1586.62	188.95
23	1587.04	188.90	1587.46	188.85
24	1587.88	188.80	1588.30	188.75
25	1588.73	188.70	1589.15	188.65
26	1589.57	188.60	1589.99	188.55
27	1590.41	188.50	1590.83	188.45
28	1591.26	188.40	1591.68	188.35
29	1592.10	188.30	1592.52	188.25
30	1592.95	188.20	1593.37	188.15
31	1593.79	188.10	1594.22	188.05
32	1594.64	188.00	1595.06	187.95
33	1595.49	187.90	1595.91	187.85
34	1596.34	187.80	1596.76	187.75
35	1597.19	187.70	1597.62	187.65
36	1598.04	187.60	1598.47	187.55
37	1598.89	187.50	1599.32	187.45
38	1599.75	187.40	1600.17	187.35
39	1600.60	187.30	1601.03	187.25
40	1601.46	187.20	1601.88	187.15
41	1602.31	187.10	1602.74	187.05
42	1603.17	187.00	1603.60	186.95
43	1604.03	186.90	1604.46	186.85
44	1604.88	186.80	1605.31	186.75
45	1605.74	186.70	1606.17	186.65
46	1606.60	186.60	1607.04	186.55
47	1607.47	186.50	1607.90	186.45
48	1608.33	186.40	1608.76	186.35
49	1609.19	186.30	1609.62	186.25
50	1610.06	186.20	1610.49	186.15

There are other ways to visualize this data and put it into channels. Look for a blog post soon on this.

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