Abstract

The deployment of lightwave communications systems traditionally has been driven by bandwidth requirements. The variety of technologies emerging today allows cost-effective system options which provide not only ample transmission capacity for meeting future service demands but also enhanced operational flexibility and network reliability. The impact of optical amplifiers, wavelength multiplexing, video compression, highly-linear lasers, and other technologies on next-generation lightwave systems and networks will be discussed.

© 1994 Optical Society of America