Terminology » What is WSS : Wavelength Selective Switch in Fiber Optics

What is WSS : Wavelength Selective Switch in Fiber Optics

fiber optic wavelength optical power roadm optical component

A Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) is an optical networking device that dynamically routes individual wavelength channels within a DWDM system. By enabling flexible wavelength management without optical-to-electrical conversion, WSS technology improves network scalability, operational efficiency and bandwidth utilization in modern optical transport networks. Following are applications or functions of WSS optical device.

  • Wavelength Switching
  • Optical Power Control for ROADM (Reconfigurable Optical Add Drop MUX)
  • Optical Power Control for Wavelength Switch Nodes.

Wavelength Selective Switch-WSS ROADM

Figure depicts a WSS of a degree-4 node type.

For mesh connectivity, a 1 x 5 WSS with a degree-4 node is typically used. It supports ring-to-ring interconnection. Three WSS units are required for each degree to support mesh connectivity as well as colorless ADD/Drop ports.