ROADM Modules

Today’s ROADM networks have served the industry well, but their limitations are constraining operators’ plans for future growth. Broadcast-and-select architecture, hardwired fixed-wavelength arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) add/drops, and limited wavelength selective switch (WSS) port scalability do not offer the performance or network responsiveness now required. Channel turn-up and reprovisioning still require manual intervention, protection is still achieved with expensive transceiver duplication, and data rate growth is constrained by fixed wavelength configurations. Carriers are looking to colorless/directionless (CD) and colorless/directionless/contentionless (CDC) ROADMs to extend their network flexibility.