Abstract

Following the publication by Kao et al¹ in 1966 of a paper on the use of cladded glass fibres as a potential transmission medium for optical communications, work began in the UK at Standard Telephone Laboratories (STL) the Post Office Research Dept (PORD) and at the Signals Research and Development Establishment on defining the materials and fibre requirements for future civil and military communications systems. At the outset it was recognised that for economic use in telecommunications the fibres would have to be of low optical loss (<20 dB/km), with bandwidths of 100 Mbit sec or more, and of low cost. For potential military and avionics applications the loss and bandwidth requirements were expected to be less severe but higher numerical aperture fibres, possibly to be used as fibre bundles, would be required.

© 1975 Optical Society of America