Fiber Optic Cable 7-13-25

While Bell Labs played a crucial role in the development of fiber optic technology, they weren't the sole inventors of the fiber optic cable itself. Their significant contribution was the development of a process in 1973 to mass-produce low-loss optical fibers using an adapted vapor deposition methodology. This process is still used today for manufacturing fiber optic cables.  

Here's a more detailed look:

Early research and concepts: The idea of using light for communication had been around for some time, with Alexander Graham Bell even inventing a "photophone" in 1880. However, early attempts were hampered by the fact that glass fibers of the time had significant signal loss over distance. 

Key breakthroughs: Charles Kao and George Hockham's work: In 1966, researchers at Standard Telecommunication Laboratories, including Charles Kao and George Hockham, published a paper demonstrating that the signal loss in existing glass fibers was due to impurities and that it could be significantly reduced by removing those impurities.

Corning Glass Works's invention: In 1970, Corning researchers Robert Maurer, Donald Keck, and Peter Schultz developed the first low-loss optical fiber, using a process to purify the glass to minimize signal loss, effectively making it practical for telecommunications. 

Bell Labs' contribution: Bell Labs, building on these breakthroughs, focused on developing a way to mass-produce these low-loss fibers. In 1973, they developed the adapted vapor deposition methodology, which is still used today to produce fiber optic cables. This allowed for the widespread adoption of fiber optics in telecommunications. 

Early applications: The first telephone call using fiber optic technology occurred in the late 1970s, and by the 1980s, telephone companies were using fiber optics on a large scale. The first transatlantic fiber optic cable was deployed in the late 1980s. 

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Comments

The deployment of Fiber Optics was well done. It reduced dependence on copper for phone lines and is in use for  routers used for home-based internet access. The expense of dismantling existing copper lines is enormous. Telephone Polls continue to carry lines for electricity. I think we can keep our copper-based access to our land line for a while.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader