INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION

ITU-T G.694.2
TELECOMMUNICATION (12/2003)
STANDARDIZATION SECTOR
OF ITU

SERIES G: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS AND MEDIA,

DIGITAL SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS
Transmission media characteristics – Characteristics of
optical components and subsystems

Spectral grids for WDM applications: CWDM

wavelength grid

ITU-T Recommendation G.694.2

 ITU-T G-SERIES RECOMMENDATIONS
TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS AND MEDIA, DIGITAL SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS

INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE CONNECTIONS AND CIRCUITS G.100–G.199

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS COMMON TO ALL ANALOGUE CARRIER- G.200–G.299
TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INTERNATIONAL CARRIER TELEPHONE G.300–G.399
SYSTEMS ON METALLIC LINES
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INTERNATIONAL CARRIER TELEPHONE G.400–G.449
SYSTEMS ON RADIO-RELAY OR SATELLITE LINKS AND INTERCONNECTION WITH
METALLIC LINES
COORDINATION OF RADIOTELEPHONY AND LINE TELEPHONY G.450–G.499
TESTING EQUIPMENTS G.500–G.599
TRANSMISSION MEDIA CHARACTERISTICS G.600–G.699
General G.600–G.609
Symmetric cable pairs G.610–G.619
Land coaxial cable pairs G.620–G.629
Submarine cables G.630–G.649
Optical fibre cables G.650–G.659
Characteristics of optical components and subsystems G.660–G.699
DIGITAL TERMINAL EQUIPMENTS G.700–G.799
DIGITAL NETWORKS G.800–G.899
DIGITAL SECTIONS AND DIGITAL LINE SYSTEM G.900–G.999
QUALITY OF SERVICE AND PERFORMANCE – GENERIC AND USER-RELATED G.1000–G.1999
ASPECTS
TRANSMISSION MEDIA CHARACTERISTICS G.6000–G.6999
DIGITAL TERMINAL EQUIPMENTS G.7000–G.7999
DIGITAL NETWORKS G.8000–G.8999

For further details, please refer to the list of ITU-T Recommendations.

ITU-T Recommendation G.694.2

Spectral grids for WDM applications: CWDM wavelength grid

Summary
This Recommendation provides the wavelength grid for coarse wavelength division multiplexing
(CWDM) applications. This wavelength grid supports a channel spacing of 20 nm.
The wavelength grid in this version of this Recommendation has been moved by 1 nm to align it
with current industry practice while maintaining symmetrical nominal central wavelength deviations.

Source
ITU-T Recommendation G.694.2 was approved on 14 December 2003 by ITU-T Study Group 15
(2001-2004) under the ITU-T Recommendation A.8 procedure.

ITU-T Rec. G.694.2 (12/2003) i

 FOREWORD
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency in the field of
telecommunications. The ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) is a permanent organ of
ITU. ITU-T is responsible for studying technical, operating and tariff questions and issuing
Recommendations on them with a view to standardizing telecommunications on a worldwide basis.
The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), which meets every four years,
establishes the topics for study by the ITU-T study groups which, in turn, produce Recommendations on
these topics.
The approval of ITU-T Recommendations is covered by the procedure laid down in WTSA Resolution 1.
In some areas of information technology which fall within ITU-T's purview, the necessary standards are
prepared on a collaborative basis with ISO and IEC.

NOTE
In this Recommendation, the expression "Administration" is used for conciseness to indicate both a
telecommunication administration and a recognized operating agency.
Compliance with this Recommendation is voluntary. However, the Recommendation may contain certain
mandatory provisions (to ensure e.g. interoperability or applicability) and compliance with the
Recommendation is achieved when all of these mandatory provisions are met. The words "shall" or some
other obligatory language such as "must" and the negative equivalents are used to express requirements. The
use of such words does not suggest that compliance with the Recommendation is required of any party.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

ITU draws attention to the possibility that the practice or implementation of this Recommendation may
involve the use of a claimed Intellectual Property Right. ITU takes no position concerning the evidence,
validity or applicability of claimed Intellectual Property Rights, whether asserted by ITU members or others
outside of the Recommendation development process.
As of the date of approval of this Recommendation, ITU had not received notice of intellectual property,
protected by patents, which may be required to implement this Recommendation. However, implementors
are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information and are therefore strongly urged to consult the
TSB patent database.

 ITU 2004
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, by any means whatsoever, without the
prior written permission of ITU.

ii ITU-T Rec. G.694.2 (12/2003)

 CONTENTS
Page
1 Scope ............................................................................................................................ 1
2 References..................................................................................................................... 1
2.1 Normative references...................................................................................... 1
2.2 Informative references.................................................................................... 1
3 Definitions .................................................................................................................... 1
3.1 Terms defined in this Recommendation......................................................... 1
3.2 Terms defined in other Recommendations..................................................... 1
4 Abbreviations and acronyms ........................................................................................ 2
5 Coarse WDM and its applications ................................................................................ 2
6 Nominal central wavelengths for coarse WDM systems.............................................. 2
Appendix I – Central wavelength spacing and wavelength variation...................................... 3
Appendix II – Wavelength allocation ...................................................................................... 4

ITU-T Rec. G.694.2 (12/2003) iii

ITU-T Recommendation G.694.2

Spectral grids for WDM applications: CWDM wavelength grid

1 Scope
The purpose of this Recommendation is to provide the definition of a wavelength grid to support
coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) applications. This grid is designed to allow
simultaneous transmission of several wavelengths with sufficient separation to permit the use of
uncooled sources.

2 References

2.1 Normative references

The following ITU-T Recommendations and other references contain provisions which, through
reference in this text, constitute provisions of this Recommendation. At the time of publication, the
editions indicated were valid. All Recommendations and other references are subject to revision;
users of this Recommendation are therefore encouraged to investigate the possibility of applying the
most recent edition of the Recommendations and other references listed below. A list of the
currently valid ITU-T Recommendations is regularly published. The reference to a document within
this Recommendation does not give it, as a stand-alone document, the status of a Recommendation.
[1] ITU-T Recommendation G.671 (2002), Transmission characteristics of optical components
and subsystems.

2.2 Informative references

The following ITU-T Recommendations contain other relevant information.
[2] ITU-T Recommendation G.983.3 (2001), A broadband optical access system with
increased service capability by wavelength allocation.
[3] ITU-T Recommendation J.185 (2002), Transmission equipment for transferring multi-
channel television signals over optical access networks by FM conversion.
[4] ITU-T Recommendation J.186 (2002), Transmission equipment for multi-channel television
signals over optical access networks by sub-carrier multiplexing (SCM).

3 Definitions

3.1 Terms defined in this Recommendation

This Recommendation defines the following term:
3.1.1 wavelength grid: A wavelength grid is a reference set of vacuum optical wavelengths used
to denote allowed nominal central wavelengths that may be used in defining applications.

3.2 Terms defined in other Recommendations

This Recommendation uses terms defined in ITU-T Rec. G.671:
– Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM).
– Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM).

ITU-T Rec. G.694.2 (12/2003) 1

4 Abbreviations and acronyms
This Recommendation uses the following abbreviations:
CWDM Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing
DWDM Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing
WDM Wavelength Division Multiplexing

5 Coarse WDM and its applications

Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM), a WDM technology, is characterized by wider
channel spacing than Dense WDM (DWDM) as defined in ITU-T Rec. G.671. CWDM systems can
realize cost-effective applications, through a combination of uncooled lasers, relaxed laser
wavelength selection tolerances and wide passband filters.
CWDM systems can be used in transport networks in metropolitan areas for a variety of clients,
services and protocols.
Appendix I provides an explanation of the rationale for choosing the central wavelength spacing
and the determining factors of the wavelength variation.

6 Nominal central wavelengths for coarse WDM systems

The nominal central wavelengths for coarse WDM systems are used as a reference to define, for
each channel used, an upper wavelength bound and a lower wavelength bound. These bounds define
limits for the wavelength of the transmitter under all conditions and at the same time the wavelength
limits over which the specifications of the optical multiplexers and demultiplexers must be met.
The upper wavelength bound is the central wavelength of the channel plus the central wavelength
deviation found in the Recommendation defining the application.
The lower wavelength bound is the central wavelength of the channel minus the central wavelength
deviation found in the Recommendation defining the application.
The CWDM grid wavelengths within the range 1271 nm to 1611 nm are shown in Table 1. The
value of "c" (speed of light in vacuum) that should be used for converting between wavelength and
frequency is 2.99792458 × 108 m/s.

2 ITU-T Rec. G.694.2 (12/2003)

 Table 1/G.694.2 – Nominal central wavelengths
Nominal central wavelengths (nm)
for spacing of 20 nm
1271
1291
1311
1331
1351
1371
1391
1411
1431
1451
1471
1491
1511
1531
1551
1571
1591
1611
NOTE – The endpoints of this table are illustrative only.

Appendix I

Central wavelength spacing and wavelength variation

Effective CWDM realizations with uncooled lasers and wide passband filters require a nominal
central wavelength spacing of not less than 20 nm. Total source wavelength variation of the order of
±6-7 nm is expected to be compatible with current filter technologies. As for the guardband, one
third of the minimum channel spacing is sufficient. Therefore, in order to maximize the number of
channels, 20 nm has been chosen.
Specific values and allocations of this variation will be defined in individual applications.
The wavelength variation is determined by mainly two factors. First, the laser manufacturer is
allowed a wavelength variation around the nominal wavelength in order to achieve a higher yield
and/or relax fabrication tolerances. Second, the use of uncooled lasers will cause the wavelength to
change with temperature within the specified temperature range of the laser.

ITU-T Rec. G.694.2 (12/2003) 3

 Appendix II

Wavelength allocation

ITU-T Rec. G.983.3 (March 2001) defines the wavelength allocation for video distribution signals
multiplexed with B-PON. ITU-T Recs J.185 and J.186 (February 2002) define the wavelength
allocation for transferring multi-channel television signals.

4 ITU-T Rec. G.694.2 (12/2003)

 SERIES OF ITU-T RECOMMENDATIONS

Series A Organization of the work of ITU-T

Series B Means of expression: definitions, symbols, classification

Series C General telecommunication statistics

Series D General tariff principles

Series E Overall network operation, telephone service, service operation and human factors

Series F Non-telephone telecommunication services

Series G Transmission systems and media, digital systems and networks

Series H Audiovisual and multimedia systems

Series I Integrated services digital network

Series J Cable networks and transmission of television, sound programme and other multimedia signals

Series K Protection against interference

Series L Construction, installation and protection of cables and other elements of outside plant

Series M TMN and network maintenance: international transmission systems, telephone circuits,
telegraphy, facsimile and leased circuits

Series N Maintenance: international sound programme and television transmission circuits

Series O Specifications of measuring equipment

Series P Telephone transmission quality, telephone installations, local line networks

Series Q Switching and signalling

Series R Telegraph transmission

Series S Telegraph services terminal equipment

Series T Terminals for telematic services

Series U Telegraph switching

Series V Data communication over the telephone network

Series X Data networks and open system communications

Series Y Global information infrastructure, Internet protocol aspects and Next Generation Networks

Series Z Languages and general software aspects for telecommunication systems

Geneva, 2004