100GBASEW

100GBASEW is a standard for high-speed Ethernet transmission over single-mode fiber optic cable. It is part of the IEEE 802.3ba standard, which defines Ethernet speeds from 40 Gbps to 100 Gbps. Specifically, 100GBASEW refers to a 100 Gigabit Ethernet physical layer specification that utilizes a wavelength multiplexing technique.

This standard operates over a single pair of single-mode fibers. It achieves its high data rate by transmitting multiple wavelengths of light simultaneously over the same fiber. Typically, 100GBASEW employs coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) or dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) to combine and separate different optical signals. Each wavelength carries a portion of the total data.

The "W" in 100GBASEW signifies its use of wavelength multiplexing. This approach allows for significantly higher bandwidth over existing fiber infrastructure compared to methods that require separate fibers for each signal. The reach of 100GBASEW connections can vary depending on the specific implementation and the number of wavelengths used, but it is designed for medium to long-haul applications within data centers and metropolitan area networks. It is a crucial technology for supporting the growing demand for bandwidth in modern networks.