The third edition of this popular text and reference book presents the fundamental principles for understanding and applying optical fiber technology to sophisticated modern telecommunication systems. Optical-fiber-based telecommunication networks have become a major information-transmission-system, with high capacity links encircling the globe in both terrestrial and undersea installations. Numerous passive and active optical devices within these links perform complex transmission and networking functions in the optical domain, such as signal amplification, restoration, routing, and switching. Along with the need to understand the functions of these devices comes the necessity to measure both component and network performance, and to model and stimulate the complex behavior of reliable high-capacity networks. Key Features A comprehensive treatment of optical-link constituents such as optical fibers, light sources, photo detectors, connecting and coupling devices, and optical amplifiers. A comprehensive treatment of optical-link constituents such as optical fibers, light sources, photo detectors, connecting and coupling devices, and optical amplifiers. The design principles of digital and analog optical fiber transmission links, including optical power budgets, signal rise times, line coding, and noise effects on system performance. The design principles of digital and analog optical fiber transmission links, including optical power budgets, signal rise times, line coding, and noise effects on system performance. The operating principles of wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) and the components needed for its realization. The operating principles of wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) and the components needed for its realization. Descriptions of the architectures and the performance characteristics of optical networks for connecting users having a wide range of transmission needs. Descriptions of the architectures and the performance characteristics of optical networks for connecting users having a wide range of transmission needs. Discussions of advanced optical communication techniques such as soliton transmission, optical CDMA, and ultrafast optical time-division multiplexing. Discussions of advanced optical communication techniques such as soliton transmission, optical CDMA, and ultrafast optical time-division multiplexing. An entire chapter devoted to measurement standards, basic test equipment and techniques for verifying the operational characteristics of components and links. An entire chapter devoted to measurement standards, basic test equipment and techniques for verifying the operational characteristics of components and links. A modeling and simulation program on CD-ROM, which is adapted for student use from Virtual Photonics' "Photonic Transmission Design Suite". This Windows based program allows students to examine the performance of key components and of basic links consisting of these components. A modeling and simulation program on CD-ROM, which is adapted for student use from Virtual Photonics' "Photonic Transmission Design Suite". This Windows based program allows students to examine the performance of key components and of basic links consisting of these components.