Abstract

The superior transmission characteristics of optical fiber led to its initial and continuing application in long-distance point-to-point communications. For multiuser, packet-switched, local and metropolitan area networks (LAN’s and MAN’s), perhaps the most dramatic appeal of lightwave technology is the opportunity to share an enormous networkcapacity (potentially tens of terabits per second on a single fiber) among all network users.

© 1991 Optical Society of America