Photonics in the Telephone System
17 March 1989
A discussion of the progress and an illumination of the future of photonics in the telephone system is presented. First, a review of the history of telephony is conducted from the step-by-step switching systems through the 5ESS(TM). Photonic components currently used in the network are then discussed. Examples of these components are optical fiber, semiconductor laser diodes and semiconductor detectors for high speed data transmission systems. The last part of the talk concentrates on photonic components and proposed photonic switching systems of the future that can be made from the components discussed.