High Performance Single-Mode Systems

This paper looks at the development of the technology which has led to the installation of the first commercial 565 Mbit/s system in the U.K. It examines the practical implementation of the systems and the design considerations such systems must be given, especially for attenuation and dispersion budgets. The results of performance measurements are given and show that the system meets the required specification. Future systems operating at 1550 nm promise to continue the pattern of improving regenerator section capacity as both section lengths and system bit-rates increase.