Functions and Applications of Optical Add-drop Multiplexer (OADM)

SHENZHEN, China - July 11, 2023 - PRLog -- 1,What does optical add-drop multiplexer stand for
OADM is Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer, which used in WDM systems for multiplexing and routing different channels of light into or out of a single mode fiber. Its main function is to selectively drop or add one or multiple wavelength channels without affecting the transmission of other wavelength channels. The OADM device is one of the key devices of the all-optical network.

"Add" refers to the capability of the device to add one or more new wavelength channels to an existing multi-wavelength WDM signal while "drop" refers to drop or remove one or more channels, passing those signals to another network path.

2,Functions of OADM
A traditional OADM consists of multiplexer, demultiplexer and between them a method of reconfiguring the paths between the Mux, Demux and a set of ports for adding and dropping signals.

3,Types of OADM (FOADM, TOADM)
There are two main types of OADM that are widely used in communication networks: Fixed OADM (FOADM) and Reconfigurable OADM (ROADM).

FOADM can only add and drop bands with specified wavelengths. FOADMs have pre-assigned channels at static nodes and allowed adding and dropping of individual or multiple wavelength channels from a DWDM.

The figure shows simple schematic diagram of FOADM. Firstly, demux separates all wavelengths, drops the specified wavelengths to the local nodes, and pass the rest of the wavelengths through the node. Another local specified wavelength is added, together with other wavelengths driven through Mux to next node. Here is the problem, you can't temporarily change the add/drop wavelengths because it's all fixed.

4,Applications of OADM
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
OADM has a business in the middle of choice. Of course, the main battlefield of application is MAN (metropolitan area network). That can be working flexibility, easy to upgrade and amplify the network. An Ideal multi-services transport platform in MAN application.

OXC (Optical Cross Connection)
OADM allows different optical network of different wavelength multiplexing signal at different locations.
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