Optical Fiber Submarine Cable System Development at KDD

An optical fiber submarine cable system using longwavelength and single-mode optical fiber is expected to provide economical long-haul digital transmission. This paper describes the recent research and development on an optical fiber submarine cable system for international communication at the KDD Research and Development Laboratories. An experimental model including cable and repeaters has been designed and manufactured. An experimental repeater of 1.3 μm and 280 Mbits/s was laid at a depth of 1500 m and its fundamental performance was measured in November 1981. Test production of longlength cable having a single continuous length of 30 km became possible in the end of 1981. In early June 1982, the experimental system with a 50 km cable length and two repeaters operating at 300 Mbits/s and 1.3 μm wavelength was laid in a loop into the Sagami Bay from the KDD Ninomiya Submarine Cable Landing Station.