As many service providers plan widespread 5G deployments, the sheer volume of fiber required has become apparent. For those already facing fiber constraints, some investment in laying or leasing new fiber will become a necessity. Others may be more fiber-rich, but will still need to be as strategic as possible to best utilize their fiber plant going forward. While there are many strategies and exciting new technologies that could be deployed, there is one more mature, established option that is worth consideration…
Passive DWDM filters.
Passive filters have proven to be a tremendously reliable, cost-effective for expanding bandwidth throughout networks for many years, due to their simple design, low capital and operating costs, and minimal maintenance requirements. While these are all certainly still valid in a 5G context, there is one additional benefit that truly earns passives a place in the conversation: latency. For the most exciting technologies that 5G will enable (e.g., autonomous vehicles, factory automation, and many more), network latency must be held to an absolute minimum. This is where passives have a significant advantage over active DWDM systems in particular.
Beyond initial deployment, passives can help service providers future-proof their networks as well. With at least 40 DWDM channels on tap, a large passive filter configuration will allow service providers excess capacity they can grow into as needed, while keeping the upfront costs relatively low.
Interested in exploring how this could look in your network? Schedule a complimentary, no-obligation consultation with our experts to start the process.
