Introduction to Optical Communication

Optical communication is communication using light waves as the carrier. There are two methods to increase optical path bandwidth: one is to increase the single-channel transmission rate of the fiber; the other is to increase the number of wavelengths transmitted in a single fiber, i.e., Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) technology. The ultimate goal of future transmission networks is to build an all-optical network, fully realizing "fiber transmission replacing copper wire transmission" in access networks, metropolitan area networks, and backbone networks.

Optical communication is communication using light waves as the carrier. There are two methods to increase optical path bandwidth: one is to increase the single-channel transmission rate of the fiber; the other is to increase the number of wavelengths transmitted in a single fiber, i.e., Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) technology.

For optical communication, its technology is basically mature, while business demand is relatively insufficient. Taking FTTH (Fiber To The Home), hailed as the "ultimate goal of broadband access," as an example, its implementation technology EPON is fully mature. However, since the bandwidth required by ordinary users for Internet access is not high, the commercial deployment of FTTH (Fiber To The Home) is limited to some pilot areas. Nevertheless, in 2006, with the launch of triple-play services such as IPTV, the bandwidth provided by operators could no longer meet users' demands for high-definition television, and the deployment of FTTH (Fiber To The Home) was subsequently put on the agenda. Similarly, ASON (Automatically Switched Optical Network) offers flexible control of the transmission network and can provide personalized services for enterprise customers. Many operators have invested heavily in building ASON (Automatically Switched Optical Network) to develop and retain enterprise customers.