Oct 18 2012
SCTE Cable-Tec Expo, Booth #1441 – Today, 3M introduced two new families of optical components designed to help cable operators increase capacity while containing costs. The new Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexers from 3M feature one of the smallest, thinnest form factors available on the market. The Planar Light Circuit (PLC) Optical Splitters integrate with a broad range of architectures and platforms.
With costs of deploying new fiber ranging between $10,000 and $70,000, cable operators need more efficient ways to add capacity in order to stay competitive. CWDM technology increases capacity without adding new fiber by using different wavelengths of light to multiply the number of optical carrier signals on a single fiber. This technique also enables bi-directional communication on that same strand of fiber.
The CWDM family of products from 3M utilizes ultra bend-insensitive fiber, enabling deployment in tight spaces and closures. Cable operators using 3M CWDM to enable multi-wavelength technology can now cost-effectively extend capacity and bandwidth in fiber poor environments with the reliability of 3M products designed to meet and exceed Telcordia GR-1209, GR-1211 requirements.
3M also introduced Planar Light Circuit (PLC) Optical Splitters for carriers looking to deploy RFoG or PON FTTH networks. The splitters are available in many split ratios, with bare-fiber or connectors, including the commonly deployed: 1x2, 1x4, 1x8, 1x16, 1x32. The use of PLC splitters in FTTH networks helps to reduce the number of feeder fibers originating from the head-end to the serving area.
The 3M PLC splitters are fully passive optical branching devices exhibiting uniform signal splitting for the most advanced optical networks. They are manufactured and tested to GR-1209/1221 requirements to ensure performance and reliability in harsh environments.
Both of these new product families can be integrated into all 3M fiber closures, terminals and FDUs, enabling a complete solution for cable operators.