Wavelength Division vs. Code Division Access Methods for Optical Networks

This paper examines two methods of multiple access for optical networks: code-division and wavelength division. Two approaches are given for analyzing code-division systems, and an overview of a proposal for a WDM network will be summarized. Since the maturity of the technologies necessary for such systems diier, the usefulness of a direct comparison between CDMA and WDM is limited; instead, this paper seeks to identify the important elements of each of these access methods, and to evaluate CDMA and WDM in terms of those elements. Both these access methods will be analyzed in terms of their practicality in an optical network.