An undersea communication system using fiberguide cables

An exploratory optical undersea communication system is described that uses multiple single-mode fiber pairs, each carrying digital signals at about 300 Mbit/s. General systems aspects are discussed as well as details of the exploratory undersea fiberguide cable, repeater, regenerator, supervisory system, and terminal equipment. Difficult technological problems need to be solved before committing such a system to final development. The authors believe commissioning an optical transatlantic undersea system in the present decade is reasonable.