Date - 24 May 2010     No of Pages- 23

Optical Networking is the process of network communication between computers, telephones and other electronic devices using light pulses. The optical networks are more reliable and have more data carrying capacity than electrical networks.

Optical transmission is done through optical fibers. There are three layers in an optical fiber: The innermost layer is called 'core', which carries the light pulses (in which data is encoded); the middle layer is a 'cladding' and it reflects light into the core; the outer most layer is a protective buffer coating, which protects the fiber from heat and moisture. Using technologies such as Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM), a single optical fiber can be used to carry multiple channels for information transmission. A study carried out showed that these fibers can be used to carry more than 150 channels (wavelengths), each carrying data at 100 Gigabit per second over long distances. Further, network equipment, like routers and switches in an optical network, support these optical fiber communication. Unlike their electrical counterparts, the equipment in optical network operates using electro-optic or magneto-optic effects.

Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) has made it possible to exploit the potential of unlimited bandwidth on an optical fiber. DWDM places narrowly spaced channels onto the same fiber and increases capacity on existing fiber routes by factors of 16, 32, 40, or more. Thus, it has helped telecommunications service providers increase capacity without installing new optical fiber, and at decreased costs. Thus, new carrier network players have been adopting IP-based DWDM networks because of lower costs. All these factors have contributed in driving the Global DWDM Optical Networking market.

This report by TechNavio Insights highlights scope of the Global Optical Networking market over the period 2009-2013. Further, it discusses key market trends, drivers, growth inhibitors and a few major vendors in the market.

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TechNavio's research portfolio in the Networking series includes reports on the SAN Market, WLAN Market, NAS Market, Ethernet Market, Routers Market, Network Equipment Market, FTTH Market, Optical Fiber Market, Storage Software Market, Data Center Network Equipment Market, IPAM Market.