Optical Communication

Prof. Junaid Mandviwala

Department of Electronics and
Telecommunication
Rizvi College of Engineering
Scheme
Prerequisites
Physics
Electromagnetic Wave Propagation
Electronic Devices and Circuits
Principles of Communication
 Course Outcome
After successful completion of the course student will
be able to
List, write and explain fundamentals and
transmission characteristics of optical fiber
communication.

List, write and explain principles and characteristics

of various sources, detectors and various fiber optic
components.

Calculate parameters for optical link budgeting and

analyze the link.
Syllabus
1. Optical Fiber & Their Properties
2. Transmission Characteristics of Optical Fiber
3. Optical Sources
4. Optical Detectors
5. Fiber Optic Components
6. Optical Link
 Books
Text Books
Optical Fiber Communication – Gerd Keiser, 4th Ed., MGH, 2008.
Optical Fiber Communications– – John M. Senior, Pearson
Education. 3rd Impression, 2007.

Reference Books
Fiber Optics Communications-Harold Kolimbiris
Introduction to Optical Fibers, Cheri, McGraw Hill.
Fiber optic communication– Joseph C Palais: 4th Edition, Pearson
Education.
Examination Scheme
Chapter 1 : Optical Fiber and Their
Properties
History
 Historical Development
Fiber optics deals with study of propagation of light through transparent
dielectric waveguides. The fiber optics are used for transmission of data from
point to point location. Fiber optic systems currently used most extensively as
the transmission line between terrestrial hardwired systems. 

The carrier frequencies used in conventional systems had the limitations in

handling the volume and rate of the data transmission. The greater the carrier
frequency larger the available bandwidth and information carrying capacity
 First Generation
The first generation of light wave systems use GaAs semiconductor Laser and
operating region was near 0.8µm. Other specifications of this generation are as :
Bit Rate: 45Mb/s
Repeater Spacing: 10 Km

 Second Generation
Bit Rate: 100Mb/s to 1.7 Gb/s
Repeater Spacing: 50 km
Operation Wavelength: 1.3 µm
Semiconductor: In GaAsP
 Third Generation
Bit Rate: 10 Gb/s
Repeater Spacing: 100 km
Operation Wavelength: 1.55 µm

 Fourth Generation
 It uses WDM technique
Bit Rate: 10 Tb/s
Repeater Spacing: >10000 km
Operation Wavelength: 1.45 to 1.62 µm

 Fifth Generation
 It uses Roman amplification technique and optical solitiors.
Bit Rate: 40 – 160 Tb/s
Repeater Spacing: 24000 km – 35000km
Operation Wavelength: 1.53 to 1.57 µm
History
1966 – suggestion to use optical fiber (Kao & Hockham)
1970 – Corning Glass optical fiber with 20 dB/km near 1 μm
1970 - Semiconductor Laser with CW operation at room temp.
1980 onwards – wide spread use of Optical Fiber Communication using
SMF and MMF
1990 – used Optical amplification (for increased repeater spacing) and
Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) for increased data rate.
Resulted in a data rate of 10 Tb/s by 2001.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
General System
Advantages
Large Transmission bandwidth
Small Size and Light in Weight
Low Transmission loss
Electrical Isolation
High Degree of Signal Security
No Crosstalk and Immunity to Interference
Low Cost
Reliable System
Large Transmission Bandwidth
Light rays are used as the carrier waves which has very
high frequency therefore bandwidth increases.

It has potential bandwidth of around 10^14 hertz.

Small Size and Light Weight
The Diameter of optical fiber is very small (slightly more than the human
hair)

Optical fibers occupy less space.

Low Transmission Losses
Total Internal Reflection phenomenon
takes place in optical fiber which offers
very low losses

Large spacing between the repeaters is

possible due this low losses

Optical fibers can be used for long

distance communication because the
transmission losses are very low (0.2
dB/Km)
Electrical Isolation
Optical fibers are made of Glass (Silica) or Plastic, These are nothing but
insulators.

So the light rays travel inside the insulating material

Therefore there is no chance of Electric Shock, Short Circuit or sparking

hazards etc.
 High Degree of Signal Security
Light rays propagates inside the core of the Optical Fibers
Hacking of the signal is not possible
If someone tries to steal the signals, then it can be easily detected
This feature of the optical fibers is useful especially for military, banking and
sending secrete messages.
No Crosstalk and Immunity to Interference
In optical fibers, there is no interference in electrically noisy environment.
There is no effect of EMI and RFI
Fibers can be cabled together without any crosstalk
Low Cost
Optical fibers are made of Glass (silica or sand) or plastic, available in
plenty therefore the cost of optical fibers are very low
Repeaters and other electronic equipment’s are required in less amount.
Reliable System
Repeaters and other electronic equipment’s are required in less amount
which makes it more reliable.
Optical fibers can easily serve for 20- 30 years
High reliability reduces the maintenance and maintenance cost.
 Comparison between optical fiber communication & Conventional communication system s

Optical Fiber Communication System Conventional Communication System

1. Requires a bandwidth of 1013 to 1016 Hz. 1.Requires a bandwidth of 500 MHz

2 .Light weight. 2. Heavier in weight.

3. Immune to R.F. interference. 3. Needs external shielding.

4. Electrical isolation. 4. Exhibits earthing problems.

5. Low loss of about 0.2 dB/km. 5. Loss of about 10dB/km.

6. Secure signal propagation. 6. Signal can be tapped easily.

7.Due to increased bandwidth higher data 7. Low data rates compared to optical
rates fiber.
Compare the Optical Communication System with Microwave system
Optical Communication System Microwave System
1. Uses glass optical fibers or plastic optical fibers 1. Uses co-axial cable or microwave waveguides for
for transmission. transmission.
2. Low weight, hence large transmission distance 2. Heavier than optical fibers.
or same weight of microwave link.

3. Large bandwidth of range 1013 to l016Hz. 3. Bandwidth is lesser in the range of 108 to 1010Hz.

4. Electrically isolated, hence no shielding 4. Prone to electrical disturbances and hence, shielding
is required. for reducing RE interference.

5. Low loss of 0.2dB/km. 5. A considerable loss of 5 dB/km.

6. Large spacing between repeaters about 1 in 300 6. Spacing distance between repeaters is less, is
km. suitable only for short distance if waveguides are used.
7. Because large bandwidth, higher data rate of the 7. Data rates of mega bits per second can be
order of terabits per second. obtained.

8. Message security is obtained. 8. Signal can be tapped easily.

9. No cross talk, hence many fiber 9. If shielding is not done properly, cross talk is
communication channels can be packed introduced.
inside one single cable.

10. Expensive transmitter and receiver. 10. Simple and less expensive transmitter and
receiver.
11. Difficult coupling. 11. Easy coupling.

12. Power transmission depends upon the
quantum efficiency of light source (LED or
LASER)
13. Unable to excite the terminal device
directly.
12. Output power is directly coupled to the
transmission line.
13. Able to operate the terminal device directly.
Disadvantages
High initial Cost

Maintenance and Repairing Cost

Tensile stress (Fragile)

Short links

Fiber losses
Applications
1. Communication :
Optical fiber is used by many telecommunications companies to transmit telephone
signals, Internet communication, and cable television signals
It is use in Wi-Fi router and server connector.
A single optical fiber can carry over 3,000,000 full-duplex voice calls or 90,000 TV
channels So it is use in Broad bandwidth.
Applications
2. Military :
Optical fiber is used to make military equipment.
It is also use to make antenna to communicate in far areas.
Applications
3. Medical
Light therapy
Ophthalmic lasers (Eyes)
Lab and clinical diagnostics
Endoscopy
Applications
4. Other Application:
Optical fiber is use to make lamps, decorative application, art, toys,
microscope and outer body of devices.
Optical Sensors.