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How do communication engineers transmit voice and data through optical-fibre networks?
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Communication engineers transmit voice and data through optical-fibre networks by converting information into light signals that propagate through thin glass or plastic strands via total internal reflection.12
The process generally involves three key stages:
- Signal Conversion: Because voice and many other signals are analog, they must first undergo analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion to be represented as binary bits (1s and 0s).3
- Modulation and Transmission: An electro-optical transmitter—typically a semiconductor laser or light-emitting diode—converts these digital signals into a modulated beam of infrared light. To maximize capacity, engineers often use wave division multiplexing (WDM), which allows multiple wavelengths of light to carry different data streams simultaneously over a single fibre.1245
- Reception and Regeneration: At the destination, an optoelectronic receiver detects the light pulses and converts them back into an electric current. For long-distance links, erbium-doped optical amplifiers are used to boost signal power and offset attenuation.15