Description

This paper summarizes the trends in today’s fiber optics market. Historically, there has been a decline in the copper industry, with fiber, especially in telecommunications, creating a large impact. The four basic types of fiber optic cable are presented, with trends away from high fiber count cables. Prices have fallen significantly since 1977. The future, the author predicts, is in the telephone loop, especially in undersea fiber optic cable systems. A much smaller, but also quickly growing sector is the fiber optic datacom, or computer, market. Results of interviews will be discussed.