Terabit transmission technology

This paper reviews state-of-the-art technologies that will play important r oles in terabit transmission systems. To take full advantage of fiber capac ity, combined multiplexing of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) and ti me division multiplexing (TDM) technologies is recommended. Not only device technologies, but also system-side viewpoints are emphasized in order to c larify the differences between TDM and WDM systems. Linear transmission and nonlinear ones, which includes optical soliton systems are also compared. This paper predicts that pursuing increased transmission capacity will resu lt in more combined designs of detailed fiber dispersion and transmitted op tical signal parameters.