Fiber | Laser News - March 18, 1983 - Vol. 3, No. 6 - Actionable Information for the 80s

Oct 13, 2026

Fiber | Laser News (Vol. 3, No. 6; March 18, 1983) delivers actionable reporting on optical fiber and laser technology. Coverage explains why fiber optics are positioned to be the preferred medium for international satellite television transmission, citing technical advantages and policy implications. The issue also details M/A-Com’s contract to supply electronics for MCI’s New York-Washington link, including local distribution drops and system integration plans, and discusses expectations for declining optical fiber pricing as single-mode fiber enters the market.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

INTERNATIONAL TV BEST SUITED FOR FIBER OPTICS

FCC CHAIRMAN FOWLER TELLS SATELLITE BUSES

M/A-COM TO PROVIDE SOME ELECTRONICS FOR MCI NORTHEAST LINK; FUJITSU ALSO LIKELY SUPPLIER

PRICE OF OPTICAL FIBER EXPECTED TO DROP

AS SINGLE MODE COMES TO MARKET

ISSN 0275-6099March 18,1983Fiber|Laser News.Washington,D.C.Vol.3,No.6The Biweekly Report on Optical Fiber and Laser TechnologyPhlllps Publlshing,Ine.Actionable Information for the80sDear Executive: growth anticipated,p.3..Lasers to make up 502 of ophthalmic equipment by 1987,p.4.…TRW cites advantages of D-Net,p.5…Mini-Hub changes for British market seen as minor,INTERNATIONAL TV BEST SUITED FOR FIBER OPTICS,FCC CHAIRMAN FOWLER TELLS SATELLITE BUFESFCC Chairman Mark Fowler used the recent International Satellite Television symposiumin Los Angeles to explain why fiber optics should be the preferred medium for internation-al television transmission,why it represents the next step in the march of tranmissionmedia,and why the commission must ensure "that this march of improved technology is notfrustrated." Besides being technologically advantageous,fiber optics in intercontinental TV tran-mission "could also possibly alleviate some of the operational and philosophical problemsattendant with international satellite television,"Fowler noted."This is because a coun-try that objected to a transmission could halt the flow through cable,"he said."Shield-ing out a satellite signal is not as easy." "Many countries have indicated their future networks will be based on fiber optics,and steps are already under way to achieve this end,"Fowler told the seminar,which wasattended by FIBER/LASER NEWS contributing editor Karen Lynch.He cited commitments byAT&T and MCI to build long-haul fiber optic tranmission systems as examples in the UnitedStates and pointed to trans-At1antic and trans-Pacific plans to use fiber optics."Fiber optic cable may not prove to be the most advantageous transmission medium forall delivery routes,"Fowler explained.But,"its technical characteristics of speed,increased capacity,no-time-delay variations,low susceptibility to interference or inter-ception,and freedom from competition for orbital slots"make it a solid alternative tosatellites.Costs for both satellites and fiber optics are going down,he said."Large scale implementation of advances in digital transmission and fiber optic ca-bles can revolutionize many communications services,including international television,"Fowler noted. But at least one of Fowler's fellow panelists disagreed.While fiber optics wil1carry much of the telecommunications traffic in the next 10 years,broadcasting is bestsuited to satellites,communications attorney Veronica Ahern said. M/A-COM TO PROVIDE SOME ELECTRONICS FOR MCI NORTHEAST LINK;FUJITSU ALSO LIKELY SUPPLIERM/A-Com DCC has signed a multimillion dollar contract with MCI TelecommunicationsCorp.to provide fiber optic local distribution equipment for voice and data communica-tions traffic along MCI's planned New York-Washington link. The award represents only a portion of the electronics the system will require,M/A-Com DCC's Larry Campbel1 told us. An MCI official told us the company has signed a letter of intent with Fujitsu forinterexchange portions of the system,indicating,"we have the electronics under test."MCI spokesman Gary Tobin,however,said Fujitsu and MCI"are not in a binding situation,"and left open the possibility that other suppliers could be involved. The M/A-Com contract is to provide drops in local areas every 4 miles or so for voice,data,alarm and monitor services.MCI plans to integrate the local distribution networkwith its high-speed,single-mode tranmission backbone at 5 major cities between Washing- ton and New York.The system is to operate at 16 Mbps using multimode fiber. The equipment to be provided consists mainly of optical transceiver terminals 8upport-ed by proprietary 16 Mb-to-VF direct demultiplex drop/inert channel units,using customVLSI technology. The distributed drop/insert method bypasses traditional multiplexinghierarchy,and permits instantaneous VF channel reassignment and test from a remote con-trol 1ocation,according to M/A-Com DCC.The supplier is also responsible for overal1sys

FAQs

Why does FCC Chairman Mark Fowler argue that fiber optics are better for international TV transmission?

He says fiber optics offer technological advantages and can reduce operational and philosophical problems tied to satellite television. He also highlights properties like speed, capacity, low susceptibility to interference, and freedom from competing for orbital slots.

What does the M/A-Com DCC contract cover for MCI’s New York-Washington link?

The contract provides fiber optic local distribution equipment for voice and data communications. It includes drop/insert local areas and optical transceiver terminals supporting a 16 Mbps system with proprietary demultiplex/drop units.

How are industry observers expecting optical fiber prices to change with single-mode fiber entering the market?

Authorities anticipate optical fiber prices will decrease about 15% annually, with some suggesting it could drop even more in certain cases as both single-mode and multimode prices come down.

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by Olivia Brown