The Future of Fiber Optic Networks

Currently, installed fiber optic networks use optics only for signal transmission. At any point where an optical signal is switched or regenerated, the information must first be converted to an electrical signal, processed, and then reconverted to light. In contrast, future fiber optic networks will operate entirely in the optical domain, with switching accomplished optically and regeneration replaced by linear optical amplification. In this paper, basic fiber optic concepts will first be discussed. The metallic digital telephony residential loop network will then be compared and contrasted to intermediate and long term fiber optic loop networks. Finally, the residential services these optical systems could potentially provide and their impact on our personal and professional lives will be highlighted.