The requirements for frequency/wavelength standards in optical communications

As part of the National Measurement System Programme for opto-electronics, the National Physical Laboratory is undertaking the development of standards at optical frequencies used for communications purposes. As a precursor to this work Aegis Systems Limited was invited to conduct a survey of requirements for the standards. The authors describe the survey activities undertaken, the broad findings of the survey, and finally the requirements identified as being pertinent to future standards development work