
15
Future optical networks
Michael O’Mahony
Department of Electronic System Engineering, University
of Essex, Colchester, UK
(Portions reprinted, with permission, from Journal of Lightwave Technology,
Vol. 24, No. 12, December 2006, 2006 IEEE)
15.1 INTRODUCTION
All developed regions of the world are experiencing huge growth in the volume of
digital data being generated. Figure 15.1 shows the historical growth, where for
example between 2000 and 2006 the volume of data grew by a factor >50, from
3 to 160 BGB, an unimaginable growth a decade or so ago. In this context, it is also
predicted that by 2010, 70% of this data will be generated by consumers.