Table of Contents:

Definition and Overview

1. History of Transmission

2. Why Optical Transmission?

3. Transmission Signal Parameters

4. Types of Transmission Networks

5. Overview of Multiplexing

6. WDM and TDM

7. Types of Network Elements

Self-Test

Glossary

PDF of this tutorial

ADM
add/drop multiplexer

ATM
asynchronous transfer mode

DCM
dispersion compensation model

DCS
digital cross-connect system

EDFA
erbium-doped fiber amplifier

IP
Internet protocol

OADM
optical add/drop multiplexer

PXC
photonic cross-connect

QoS
quality of service

SDH
synchronous digital hierarchy

SONET
synchronous optical network

TDM
time division multiplexing

VC
virtual circuit

WDM
wavelength division multiplexing