Is standard single-mode fiber the fiber to fulfill the

To meet increased fiber capacity and transmission distance demands, ultra-Dense Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (DWDM) is preferred by Sprint because of its compatibility with Sprint's legacy fiber plant, composed primarily of standard Single-Mode Fiber (SMF). This paper focuses on long-haul transmission efficiencies and fiber compatibility. The trade-offs between bandwidth efficiency, transmission distance and implementation/operation costs are considered. We compare system performances on standard SMF against Non-Zero Dispersion Shifted Fiber (NZDSF) by means of a full-fidelity fiber link modeling tool developed at the University of Kansas. Using this model, the effects of different carrier spacings, channel rates, modulation formats, amplifiers, and filtering schemes are compared. A comparative assessment is also provided by surveying DWDM vendor offerings across various fiber types.