Future Optical Communications

Communications via optical fiber has grown at a rapid rate with long distance companies having all fiber networks and undersea cables being installed around the world. The transmission rate per fiber has increased to well over a gigabit/sec. Optical communications will continue along this path, perhaps eventually reaching terabits/sec. It will also broaden the scope of its applications until optical networks reach into the home. These latter applications will depend on the reduction of component costs. The components needed to get high bit rates of the future will be reviewed and the challenges outlined.