Outline

• Introduction to optical communication systems

• Optical fibres: wavelength dispersions, step index and graded
index fibres, attenuation of fibres, source-to-fibre coupling.
• Fibre systems: transmission distribution and sensor.
• Light emitting diodes (LED). Fibre optic communication
systems: principles, light transmission in a fibre, mono-mode
and multi-mode transmission, losses in fibres, dispersion;
• Typical systems: light sources for Fibre optics, photo-
detectors, connectors and splices.
• Fibre optic communication systems, Multiplexing techniques,
link budget calculation
• Measurements in optical fibres: Attenuation, dispersion,
refractive index, cut-off wavelength,
• Light modulation and demodulation techniques.
History of optical communications
Beacon communications
This is the early stage of optical communication
Which information did those people send?
-Attack of enemies
-Start of the wars
-Result of wars
How did they send information ?
-Smoke or No smoke
Let’s consider features of this communication.
• Information is limited
• Transmission capacity is limited
• Transmission distance is very short.
• Subject to the weather
• Good eyesight is necessary
• False alarm might occur
 • In 1794, France developed
Semaphore to transmit the victory
of the war.
• Much faster compared to carry by
horses
• Semaphore reduced
communication time from 30
hours when using horses to about
one hour.
• A 600km communication system
was constructed by Napoleon.
• 8 minutes were recorded to
carry information over 550km.
Modern Semaphore

Limitations
Required good weather (daytime)
Less security.
Required many people to operate- costly
 • A 600km communication system
was constructed by Napoleon.
• 8 minutes were recorded to
carry information over 550km.

Limitations
Required good weather (daytime)
Less security.
Required many people to operate- costly
 Phototube
Progress
Ramp
Ramp
Lens array

Photomultiplier
Gas tube
Laser
Light sources,
Transmission Lines,
Mirror array
Detectors
have been developed
with theoretical
Gas
analysis.
Gas Lens PD
Laser (Photo Diode)

Thin film line Waveguide

APD
Laser Diode Optical fiber (Avalanche Photo Diode)
Introduction to optical communication concepts
Information Transmission
Transmitter Receiver
source channel

General communication system

Optical communication system

• The information source provides an electrical signal which is
fed to the transmitter to provide the necessary modulation
• The optical source (either Light Emitting Diode or Laser)
converts the electrical signal to optical form for transmission
in the optical fibre
• The receiver consists of an optical detector to convert back the
signal to electrical form. Signal demodulation is also carried
out at the receiver
• Optical detectors may consist of photo diodes (p-n-p, n-p-n or
avalanche diodes) and photo-transistors
• Optical signal can be modulated using analog or digital
schemes. However, digital modulation schemes are preferred
Optical system with repeaters

Optical Fiber

Transmitter Receiver
Optical
Signal

Repeater
Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier

More Capacity, Longer Distance

Non-repeatered system also uses EDFA, at transmitter as booster and at receiver as

preamplifier.
 Frequency and Wavelength

pico nano micro mili kilo mega giga tera

Frequen
cy (HZ)

Magnitude

Microwave Far infrared

Radio TV Miliwave Visible light

Optical
Communication
Advantages of optical communications

High transmission bandwidth: Optical cables have the potential to

support very high information capacity when compared to other
transmission media
Weight and size: Optical fibre cables are significantly smaller and
lighter than electrical cables required for the same job, which
reduces the cost of laying cables
Material cost; Optical fibre cables costs less than copper cables for
the same transmission capacity
Electrical connections; Optical cables do not suffer from ground
loops, lightning effects that normally experienced in electrical
systems. Electrical connections also have to be protected from high
voltages due to the danger of human being touching them.
Electromagnetic Interference; Optical connections do not generate
electromagnetic interference making optical systems to have fewer
errors when compared to electrical ones.
Advantages of optical communications

Longer regenerator distances; Optical communication systems have

longer distances between repeaters (typically 40km) when compared to
coaxial cables (typically 12 km)
Better security; Optical systems have better security due to the fact that
tapping of the optical cable is easily detected due to service interruption.
This is possible through the use of advanced management systems. There
are also fewer access points where tapping of signals can be done in an
optical cable
Ruggedness and flexibility; Optical cables are more rugged and flexible
than electrical cables hence allowing easier transportation and handling
High reliability and ease of maintenance; Optical systems are
associated with lower transmission losses hence are more reliable than
electrical cables. This reduces the required maintenance in terms of cost
and time
Disadvantages of optical communications

Splicing: Incase of an optical cable cut, ‘Fusion splicing’ is the most

suitable method of joining the cables. It involves the fusing of the cable
ends with one another by melting the glass. However, making such
splices to guarantee minimal signal loss requires highly skilled personnel

Slow pace of standards development; The development of international

standards for optical systems is way too slow when compared to other
systems e.g wireless

Bending loses; Extreme bending of optical cables may introduce losses.

The amount of allowable bending is different among optical cable types
and depends on the difference in the refractive index between the core
and cladding of the cable

Gamma radiations: Optical cables may be affected by Gamma

radiations and very high-voltage electrical fields
 Modern optical communication systems

Long-haul system- access system

Submarine Cable
Long distance
with large capacity
Long life time Optical Repeater
Repeater System
Provider
User
Low cost Optical Cable
with large capacity
Access Systems

Public communication network

LAN, Home Networks, Private Networks

Robustness against
electromagnetic induction
Small diameter
Light weight University or Company
Local Area Network Home Network

Robustness against
electromagnetic induction
Small diameter
Light weight Optical network in cars or airplanes
Private communication network
 Data link

Easy installation
No radio disturbance
 Submarine Cables in Kenya
Kisii (SEACOM) (TEAMS) from/to UAE
100G 1.28T
from/to Europe 120G 1.28T

100G x 4 =400G
400G/2 =200G (EASSy) connects
African countries
? 1.28T

1.28T x 4 =5T
5T/2 =2.5T

(LION2) from/to India

Through SMW-317
 South Sudan ICT Hub
Ethiopia

UAE
Europe

Optical Fiber Network Busia

will make Kenya ICT Hub in East Africa !

Rwanda African Countries

India

Burundi

African Countries
Submarine Network-Global
 The nature of Light

Electromagnetic waves

Rays

Photons
Light as an electromagnetic wave
 Facts

f = c/
c = 3e8 (m/s)

AM Radio : f = 1,000 kHz = 300 m

TV : f = 300 MHz =1m

Microwave : f = 30 GHz = 1 cm

Light : f = 1.9e14 = 190 THz = 1.55m

Transmission capacity is almost proportional to carrier frequency.

If spectral efficiency = 1 bit/s/Hz,
Light can carry 190Tbit/s by one light-wave.
Light wave
Polarization of light wave
Polarization plane

direction
Polarization plane
of light

Magnetic field
Electric field
Interference of light wave
Destructive
interference

Constructive
interference
Interference of light wave

(a) In-phase

(b) Out-of-phase