96 Channel DWDM Mux/Demux – C15-C62 & H15-H62, 50GHz AAWG, Passive
High-density, low-loss passive optical module that aggregates up to 96 DWDM channels on a single fiber pair across the full C-band, with ITU-T compliant 50 GHz spacing and athermal (AAWG) stability — no power, no software, no temperature control.
·Up to 96 channels on one fiber pair — maximize existing fiber, no new trenching
·Low insertion loss: 6.0 dB typical, 7.0 dB max
·Passive, protocol-transparent — any rate, any service (1G/10G/25G/100G)
·Athermal AAWG — holds the ITU grid with zero power and no heater
- Product Introduction
Configure Your 96-Channel DWDM Mux/Demux
Every unit ships built to your link plan - pick the options below, or send your channel list and we return a configured BOM. All variants are passive (AAWG): no power, software, or temperature control required.
Build options
| Option | Available choices | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Channel count | 96CH (C15-C62 & H15-H62), or subset (8 / 16 / 40 / 48 / 64CH) | 96CH full C-band |
| Channel spacing | 50 GHz (0.4 nm) | 50 GHz |
| Fiber configuration | Dual-fiber (Mux+Demux) / Single-fiber | Dual-fiber |
| Housing | 2U / 1U 19″ rack mount, plug-in card, or ABS pigtailed module | 2U rack mount |
| Connector | LC / SC / FC; UPC (digital) or APC (RF/CATV) | LC/UPC |
| Add-on ports | Monitor port (1% / 2% / 5% tap), 1310 nm port, expansion port | none |
Commercial terms
| Term | Value |
|---|---|
| OEM / ODM | Private-label, custom channel maps, custom port count - supported |
| Sample | Engineering sample available on request |
Know your channel list? Send it and we'll return a priced, configured BOM.
Request a Quote (24h)
Lower channel counts: 40CH DWDM Equipment · 8CH DWDM Equipment · Need wavelength conversion? 100G DWDM Muxponder
Optical Specifications
96CH 50GHz AAWG Mux/Demux, C-band. IL specified with connectors and adapters.
| Parameter | Condition / note | Min | Max | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Channels | C15-C62 & H15-H62, full C-band | 96 | Ch | |
| Channel spacing | 50 GHz grid (0.4 nm) | 50 | GHz | |
| ITU frequency | On ITU grid, C-band | 191.50 | 196.25 | THz |
| ITU wavelength | On ITU grid, C-band | 1527.61 | 1565.50 | nm |
| Reference passband | Relative to ITU grid | ±0.05 | nm | |
| Center frequency accuracy | 3 dB center deviation from ITU grid, all channels | -0.04 | +0.04 | nm |
| Insertion loss | Max across ITU passband, all channels (6.0 typ.) | – | 7.0 | dB |
| IL uniformity | Max variance across all channels | – | 1.5 | dB |
| Ripple | Max loss variance across ITU passband | – | 0.7 | dB |
| 1 dB bandwidth | Full width, average polarization | 0.18 | – | nm |
| 3 dB bandwidth | Full width, average polarization | 0.28 | – | nm |
| 20 dB bandwidth | Full width, average polarization | 0.70 | – | nm |
| Adjacent channel isolation | Peak vs both adjacent passbands | 25 | – | dB |
| Non-adjacent isolation | Peak vs all non-adjacent passbands | 30 | – | dB |
| Total crosstalk | Channel power vs all other passbands | 20 | – | dB |
| Polarization dependent loss | Over ITU passband | – | 0.5 | dB |
| Return loss | – | 40 | – | dB |
| PMD | In reference passband, all channels | – | 1.0 | ps |
| Chromatic dispersion | In reference passband, all channels | -35 | 35 | ps/nm |
| Max optical power | At common port | – | 23 | dBm |
| Operating temperature | Athermal, no active control | -5 | +70 | °C |
Operating-temperature, optical-power and physical rows: confirm against your production datasheet. Insertion-loss row "Min" intentionally blank (only a max + typical is spec'd).
ITU Grid – 96 Channels (C-band)
View full 96-channel frequency & wavelength table
| Channel | Freq (THz) | Wavelength (nm) | Channel | Freq (THz) | Wavelength (nm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H62 | 196.25 | 1527.605 | C62 | 196.20 | 1527.994 |
| H61 | 196.15 | 1528.384 | C61 | 196.10 | 1528.773 |
| H60 | 196.05 | 1529.163 | C60 | 196.00 | 1529.553 |
| H59 | 195.95 | 1529.944 | C59 | 195.90 | 1530.334 |
| H58 | 195.85 | 1530.725 | C58 | 195.80 | 1531.116 |
| H57 | 195.75 | 1531.507 | C57 | 195.70 | 1531.898 |
| H56 | 195.65 | 1532.290 | C56 | 195.60 | 1532.681 |
| H55 | 195.55 | 1533.073 | C55 | 195.50 | 1533.465 |
| H54 | 195.45 | 1533.858 | C54 | 195.40 | 1534.250 |
| H53 | 195.35 | 1534.643 | C53 | 195.30 | 1535.036 |
| H52 | 195.25 | 1535.429 | C52 | 195.20 | 1535.822 |
| H51 | 195.15 | 1536.216 | C51 | 195.10 | 1536.609 |
| H50 | 195.05 | 1537.003 | C50 | 195.00 | 1537.397 |
| H49 | 194.95 | 1537.792 | C49 | 194.90 | 1538.186 |
| H48 | 194.85 | 1538.581 | C48 | 194.80 | 1538.976 |
| H47 | 194.75 | 1539.371 | C47 | 194.70 | 1539.766 |
| H46 | 194.65 | 1540.162 | C46 | 194.60 | 1540.557 |
| H45 | 194.55 | 1540.953 | C45 | 194.50 | 1541.349 |
| H44 | 194.45 | 1541.746 | C44 | 194.40 | 1542.142 |
| H43 | 194.35 | 1542.539 | C43 | 194.30 | 1542.936 |
| H42 | 194.25 | 1543.333 | C42 | 194.20 | 1543.730 |
| H41 | 194.15 | 1544.128 | C41 | 194.10 | 1544.526 |
| H40 | 194.05 | 1544.924 | C40 | 194.00 | 1545.322 |
| H39 | 193.95 | 1545.720 | C39 | 193.90 | 1546.119 |
| H38 | 193.85 | 1546.518 | C38 | 193.80 | 1546.917 |
| H37 | 193.75 | 1547.316 | C37 | 193.70 | 1547.715 |
| H36 | 193.65 | 1548.115 | C36 | 193.60 | 1548.515 |
| H35 | 193.55 | 1548.915 | C35 | 193.50 | 1549.315 |
| H34 | 193.45 | 1549.715 | C34 | 193.40 | 1550.116 |
| H33 | 193.35 | 1550.517 | C33 | 193.30 | 1550.918 |
| H32 | 193.25 | 1551.319 | C32 | 193.20 | 1551.721 |
| H31 | 193.15 | 1552.122 | C31 | 193.10 | 1552.524 |
| H30 | 193.05 | 1552.926 | C30 | 193.00 | 1553.329 |
| H29 | 192.95 | 1553.731 | C29 | 192.90 | 1554.134 |
| H28 | 192.85 | 1554.537 | C28 | 192.80 | 1554.940 |
| H27 | 192.75 | 1555.343 | C27 | 192.70 | 1555.747 |
| H26 | 192.65 | 1556.151 | C26 | 192.60 | 1556.555 |
| H25 | 192.55 | 1556.959 | C25 | 192.50 | 1557.363 |
| H24 | 192.45 | 1557.768 | C24 | 192.40 | 1558.173 |
| H23 | 192.35 | 1558.578 | C23 | 192.30 | 1558.983 |
| H22 | 192.25 | 1559.389 | C22 | 192.20 | 1559.794 |
| H21 | 192.15 | 1560.200 | C21 | 192.10 | 1560.606 |
| H20 | 192.05 | 1561.013 | C20 | 192.00 | 1561.419 |
| H19 | 191.95 | 1561.826 | C19 | 191.90 | 1562.233 |
| H18 | 191.85 | 1562.640 | C18 | 191.80 | 1563.047 |
| H17 | 191.75 | 1563.455 | C17 | 191.70 | 1563.863 |
| H16 | 191.65 | 1564.271 | C16 | 191.60 | 1564.679 |
| H15 | 191.55 | 1565.087 | C15 | 191.50 | 1565.496 |
Choosing 96CH – and When a Smaller Count Is the Right Call
Selection guide & application boundaries
Pick channel count by the wavelengths you will actually light in 3–5 years, not today's count. Activating a subset of a 96CH grid costs nothing extra to expand later; downsizing a network that outgrew a 40CH unit means re-cabling.
| Your situation | Recommended config |
|---|---|
| DCI / metro core, >40 active waves or fast growth | 96CH dual-fiber, 50 GHz |
| Metro aggregation, 20–40 waves, headroom wanted | 96CH (light a subset) or 64CH |
| Access ring / enterprise campus, ≤16 waves, fixed | 8–16CH (lower cost, fewer ports) |
| Single dark fiber available (not a pair) | 96CH single-fiber variant |
| Need live OSNR / power monitoring | add monitor port (1% / 2% / 5% tap) |
Where this unit fits
Protocol-transparent transport of 1G/10G/25G/100G Ethernet, SDH/SONET, 4/8/16G Fibre Channel, and CATV over the C-band - point-to-point or ring, typically up to ~80 km depending on your power budget.
Where it does NOT fit (read before ordering)
- Your transceivers must already emit ITU-grid C-band DWDM wavelengths. Grey (1310/1550 nm) optics need a transponder/OEO first - a passive Mux cannot convert wavelengths.
- Spans beyond your loss budget need an EDFA; the Mux adds ~6–7 dB - plan for it.
- If your transceiver plan is 100 GHz-only, 96CH density is unnecessary - a 48CH/100 GHz unit is cheaper for the same coverage.
Not sure which count fits your link? Send your channel plan - we'll spec it.
Related: EDFA Optical Amplifier (power budget) · ITU-grid DWDM Transceivers
Standards, Reliability & Factory Testing
Designed and tested to the standards below.
| Area | Standard | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| DWDM frequency grid | ITU-T G.694.1 | 50 GHz channel centers across the C-band |
| Passive component requirements | Telcordia GR-1209-CORE | Generic requirements for passive optical components |
| Reliability assurance | Telcordia GR-1221-CORE | Qualification / reliability of passive optical components |
| Quality system | ISO 9001 | Manufacturing quality management |
| Materials | RoHS | Restricted-substances compliance |
Per-unit factory test (test report shipped with unit)
- Insertion loss measured on every channel (typ. 6.0 dB, max 7.0 dB)
- Channel isolation verified: ≥25 dB adjacent, ≥30 dB non-adjacent
- Return loss ≥40 dB; PDL ≤0.5 dB
- Epoxy-free optical path on the signal line for long-term stability
Worried about wavelength drift in an unpowered closet or street cabinet?
The athermal AAWG design holds the ITU grid with no heater and no power feed - removing the most common failure point of thermal AWG units. Every channel is IL-tested before it ships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is 96CH worth it versus 48CH DWDM?
A: Choose 96CH over 48CH when projected wavelength count exceeds ~40 or growth is uncertain: a 96CH grid lets you activate a subset now and add waves later at zero re-cabling cost, while a 48CH/100 GHz unit is cheaper upfront but caps you at 48 C-band waves. Decision drivers competitors rarely state: (1) lead-time elasticity - stock 96CH ships in days, custom maps add weeks; (2) port/housing fit - 96CH needs 2U, 48CH fits 1U; (3) the unpowered athermal build means neither count needs a heater or power feed. Pick 48CH only when your transceiver roadmap is fixed at ≤48 waves on a 100 GHz plan.
Q: What are the most common 96CH DWDM deployment mistakes?
A: Three failure modes account for most field issues. First, grey-optics mismatch: feeding a passive Mux with 1310/1550 nm transceivers instead of ITU-grid DWDM optics produces no usable channels - the Mux filters, it does not convert. Second, contaminated LC end-faces: a single dirty connector can add 1–3 dB and break the per-channel loss budget; the athermal design is stable but the connector is not self-cleaning. Third, ignoring the ~6–7 dB Mux insertion loss in the power budget, which silently shortens reach until the receiver drops below sensitivity. None are component faults - they are planning gaps, all caught by characterizing the fiber and checking the budget against the per-channel IL on the factory test report.
Q: Can I mix different data rates on the same DWDM system?
A: Yes. The Mux/Demux is a passive optical filter, transparent to format and rate, so 1G, 10G, 25G and 100G services can run on different wavelengths simultaneously in the same unit.
Q: What maintenance does it require?
A: Minimal - no active components or power supplies. Periodic optical-power checks, connector inspection and cleaning, and fiber-plant monitoring. The passive athermal design routinely operates 20+ years; connector contamination, not component aging, is the primary risk.
Q: Difference between DWDM and CWDM?
A: DWDM uses tight 50 GHz (or less) spacing for many C-band channels; CWDM uses wide 20 nm spacing for fewer channels with cheaper optics. Use DWDM for maximum fiber capacity and longer reach; CWDM for shorter links with moderate channel counts.
DWDM Background & Best Practices
How high-density DWDM works, deployment best practices, future-proofing
DWDM transmits multiple wavelengths through a single fiber pair, multiplying capacity without new cabling. A 96-channel system spreads channels across the C-band on a precise 50 GHz grid; AAWG technology delivers high channel isolation and inherent temperature stability without active control.
Deployment best practices
Characterize fiber for chromatic and polarization-mode dispersion before lighting dense channels.
Keep connector end-faces clean - contamination directly raises insertion loss.
Monitor per-wavelength power; plan diverse routes and protection switching for resilience.
Document wavelength assignments and power levels to simplify future expansion.
Future-proofing
A 96CH grid gives headroom: light a fraction now and add wavelengths as demand grows. Being passive, the Mux accommodates coherent optics and higher per-wavelength rates without replacement.
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