Repeaterless transmission of 4*10 GbE optical packet channels using a low-power EDFA in gainsaturation region

We present a repeaterless optical packet channel transmission technique using a low-power erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) in a gain-saturation region. Reducing the average input power to the EDFA, we can increase the optical gain for packet signals. Using this technique, we transmit 4*10 gigabit ethernet optical packet channels over conventional single-mode fibers of 80, 160, and 200 km without optical repeaters.