Applications of Monomode Fiber to Local Networks

Monomode fibers and long-wavelength lasers provide a practically unlimited transmission bandwidth over very long unrepeated distances. These unique properties open up new applications. Besides the conventional long-haul telecommunications carrier applications, new markets will develop in local networks to take advantage of the low maintenance costs, the flexibility, and the high privacy of repeaterless fiber optic links. A first example is Aetna Life and Casualty´s private corporate network in the Hartford area, a wide area corporate network (WACN) designed to support: high-quality video transmission for Video conferencing or broadcasting; conventional voice and data communications; future highspeed data communications. Different aspects of the implementation of this WACN are presented. Another example, the interconnection of CATV franchises in the same area, is also discussed.