Data traffic aggregation and distribution in enterprise networks and central offices is the main application field for short-reach connections in the 2 km range. Data transmission between buildings and various network elements such as WDM routers and add-drop multiplexers are mostly achieved by high density and high bandwidth connections in order to achieve a high data throughput. This cost-sensitive market segment is often supported by standardised components provided by multiple component and equipment vendors.

The long-haul WDM network is the backbone for all Internet traffic and telecommunications. The use of multiple wavelength and highest possible transmission rates enables the best utilisation of the existing infrastructure. Key for transmission distances of multiple hundred kilometres where various penalties on the fibre need to be overcome are an excellent transmit signal performance as well as robust receive technology including any kind of signal recovery in either the optical or electrical domain.

The optical time division multiplexing is a method of signal generation, used mostly in laboratories, for transmission experiments. Laser signals are being optically multiplexed in the time domain to create higher transmission rates. This is  used especially for experiments towards next-generation networks where precise and ultra-high-speed signals are essential.  Various components, such as tunable picosecond lasers and optical multiplexers, are offered to support this work.