What is optical networking?

Organizations of all kinds are consuming data faster than ever. The robust nature of optical networking makes it the preferred foundation for mission critical networks of enterprise organizations.

Top 5 Trends in Optical Networking

The optical landscape can be a rapid changing environment, and keeping pace can be an intimidating journey. Let us unwind this evolving puzzle for you.
Article
•Mar 20, 2025

Networking Priorities for 2025

An actionable roadmap for focusing your networking initiatives.
WWT Research
•Jan 1, 2025

Seven Key Advantages of Optical Networking Technologies

With the rise in bandwidth needs driven by 5G, cloud computing and data backup, the need for a high-capacity optical transport network to support future bandwidth growth is critical.
Article
•Mar 20, 2025

400G Optics: Enabling Network Scale and Device Consolidation

How do you cost effectively interconnect 300,000 servers in one data center? Faster switches are a solution, sure, but that's only half the story. Learn how faster Optics are a must to realize the benefit of faster switching and routing technology.
Article
•Jul 20, 2023

How Does WDM Technology Work?

WDM technologies allow organizations to place equipment at either end of a fiber pair and combine multiple wavelength channels on a single fiber pair instead of using multiple separate fibers pairs for every separate service.
Article
•Mar 20, 2025

How do I get started?

Optical networking covers a broad range of technologies that play a key role in today's multi-layer networks. Still, a lot of people are unfamiliar with the technology or its purpose. We have a team of experts with deep industry knowledge and experience in designing, deploying and training.

Evaluate

The complex nature of optical networking can prove challenging for business and IT decision makers alike. Our industry experts work with you to understand your business needs and identify solutions best suited to deliver a return on investment. 

Optical Networking Assessment

Over the past decade, the Optical Network Communication industry has experienced an explosive growth, magnifying its size fourfold. Concurrently, consumer demands on these networks have surged to unprecedented levels. The long-standing infrastructure, which has faithfully served for decades, is now under immense strain. Traffic increases due to AI, streaming video, etc. stress the network on a global scale. Network operators are in dire need of assistance to kickstart the process of accelerating the modernization of the network while integrating new features and enhancing existing capacity. The Optical Network Acceleration Service is geared towards expediting the modernization of your network. It involves a comprehensive review and evaluation of the network elements that support optical transport (SONET/SDH, OTN/DWDM, PoE/TDM/CEM, and more). This service encompasses site surveys, staging reviews, configuration and integration evaluations, and in-depth testing procedures—all aimed at ensuring that your optical network changes and updates align with your ultimate goals.
Assessment
•40 hrs

Converged Optical & Packet Networking Briefing

Within the past five years, there have been tremendous advancements in both optical and routing technologies. These advancements present a compelling technical solution and a strong business case to combine, or converge, Optical and Routing architectures into one platform.
Briefing
•1 hr

Converged Optical & Packet Network

Simplification, Efficiency, and Cost Reduction Through Convergence
Public Community

TDM-to-IP Briefing

TDM technologies have been a critical tool for telecoms, utilities and many other organizations for decades. However, in recent years there has been a massive decline in research, development and support for TDM hardware and software. This has caused the industry to migrate towards solutions that provide TDM endpoint capability, delivered through a modern IP core network. The technologies associated with this transition are referred to as TDM-to-IP, and WWT partners closely with leading OEMs to offer the best in class transition strategy.
Briefing
•1 hr

Design

Our Advanced Technology Center (ATC) can replicate your network at scale to showcase how a particular optical solution will interoperate with your current architecture. Confidently deploy solutions you know will work in the field as intended.

Cisco Optical DWDM Sandbox

This lab provides a hands-on environment to get familiar with provisioning circuits on the Cisco Network Convergence System (NCS) 2000. This environment can also be customized and is used for our custom optical trainings.
Foundations Lab
•208 launches

Converged Optical & Packet Networking Workshop

The Converged Optical & Packet Networking Workshop is an interactive, customized 4-hour experience that will provide the relevant information necessary to make informed business and technical decisions.
Workshop
•4 hrs

TDM-to-IP Workshop

The TDM-to-IP Workshop is an interactive, customized 4-hour experience that will provide the relevant information necessary to make informed business and technical decisions.
Workshop
•4 hrs

Implement

Optical solutions are notorious for shipping dozens of individual packages that require significant time and expertise to assemble on-site. Using our global Integration Centers, we can stage customer solutions from a single node to an entire network. Just plug it in and it's ready to go. We offer a number of additional services designed to ensure smooth deployment — from assessing the health of fibre and site readiness to installation services and refresh upgrades.

Custom Optical Training

WWT's Custom Optical Training provides a customized class for up to twelve (12) students on Cisco Optical Technologies and Equipment. Class material is customized based upon your organization's needs and the equipment you have in your network. Students can select from a set of standard training modules and a specific duration, or a custom training class can be developed. This Training Service utilizes various different Cisco Optical Platforms in the WWT Advanced Technology Center for hands-on lab demonstrations and troubleshooting exercises. The optical equipment can be accessed virtually so that the training can be offered on site at your location.
Training
•32 hrs

Four Ways to Accelerate TDM-to-IP Migration

Unprecedented bandwidth demand is straining legacy TDM systems, which are quickly becoming antiquated. Transitioning from TDM-to-IP is an evolution of the network — a convergence of voice, data and video into a single packet-based network.
Article
•Aug 28, 2023

Supply Chain and Integration Services

Simplified IT deployments that accelerate time to market, predict workflows and reduce costs.
Service

Infrastructure Services

Assessing today's technology, designing tomorrow's solutions and seamlessly deploying critical investments at scale around the world.
Service

Operate

Optical networking expertise is in short supply. Leverage our deep industry know-how with custom training that can be hosted on your site. We have more than a dozen customizable training courses to educate your staff on how to operate your new gear moving forward.

Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager (EPNM) Lab Training

Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager (EPNM) is a simplified lifecycle management tool for carrier networks of all sizes. The solution encompasses operations, administration, provisioning and assurance across core, aggregation, edge and access networks. With powerful capabilities to manage carrier ethernet, optical transport, circuit emulation and more, Cisco EPNM provides end-to-end management of routed, optical and converged multi-layer networks. These video demonstrations are intended to guide you through the Cisco EPNM Lab.
Playlist
•6 videos
•Apr 6, 2020

Infinera G30 Optical Disaggregation and Optical Line System

Network operators today face a myriad of challenges in expanding their optical infrastructure. New and existing networks require automation, speed to market, support for disaggregated architectures and an open line system strategy in order to respond to exponential traffic growth globally. Optical disaggregation of the optical components allows operators to select which OEMs solution best fits their needs. Adopting this strategy allows for greater flexibility and agility when positioning multiple vendors solutions. In this three-part video series we will review what optical disaggregation and open line systems are, introduce the Infinera Groove G30 platform and review how to use the Infinera Transcend Network Manager System (TNMS) to provision and deploy this solution.
Playlist
•3 videos
•Aug 21, 2023

Strategic Resourcing

WWT Strategic Resourcing provides you with the specialized talent and expertise needed to drive your technology projects to success.
Service

Case studies

SC Broadband Steps into the Future with Nokia's Next Gen DWDM Transport

With the sun setting on their current DWDM system, SC Broadband needed to select a new DWDM/ROADM transport solution that would accommodate their growth and expansion for the foreseeable future.
Case Study

Service Provider Chariton Valley Discovers Network Migration Solution

The forward-thinking service provider needed to upgrade its aging DWDM/ROADM transport to support a modernized, resilient, scalable and flexible network. With WWT's help, the company now has a strategy in place to support its growing customer base.
Case Study

WWT Accelerates 5G Rollout with Optical Training and Deployment Expertise

A Tier 1 service provider needed to upgrade its network architecture, consolidate legacy platforms and increase scalability, and turned to WWT to configure, validate and deploy thousands of optical racks.
Case Study

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Key Takeaways from the OFC 2025 Conference

Members of WWT's Core Networking Team share their key takeaways and insights from the Optical Fiber Communications Conference 2025.
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How Does WDM Technology Work?

WDM technologies allow organizations to place equipment at either end of a fiber pair and combine multiple wavelength channels on a single fiber pair instead of using multiple separate fibers pairs for every separate service.
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Coherent QSFP28 Is Finally Here

The release of 100G ZR coherent QSFP28 transceivers from Nokia, Cisco and others promises to accelerate the already rapid shift from traditional core network designs to optical and packet converged architectures.
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•Nov 18, 2024

CWDM or DWDM: Which Should You Use and When?

While the two types of wavelength division multiplexing —CWDM and DWDM — are both effective methods to solve increasing bandwidth capacity needs, they are designed to tackle different network challenges.
Article
•Aug 28, 2023