ensive method. An SMF at the 1310 nm wavelength band is primarily used for medium distances ranging from 2 km to 40 km. For long-haul telecommunications, WDM systems operating in the 1550 nm wavelength band windows are deployed. From 850 nm to long wavelength and WDM, higher performance is being offered, but each one comes with a higher price tag. Nowadays, all the telecom infrastructure is fiber-based with the exception of the famous last miles to homes, which is still based on coaxial cables and copper-twisted pairs. Inside enterprise networks, fiber has been deployed since the early 1980s initially with supercomputers, and later in Local Area Networks (LANs) as well as more recently in Storage Area Networks (SANs). With continuously increasing demands for high-speed data, optical fibers and interconnects will continue to play an increasing role within the enterprise network.

In this paper, we first discuss the fundamentals of optical components for communication such as optical fibers, laser transmitters, and receivers. Second, we review the optical packaging trends for optical modules and optical transceivers. Then, after a review of the various optical interconnect topologies in the enterprise, we discuss their applications and cost trends. We then move on to discuss the next-generation optical interconnects dividing them into four main categories: box-to-box, board-to-board, chip-to-chip, and on-chip interconnects. Finally, the evolution of optical interconnects and technical challenges in enterprise networks are discussed.

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© 2005 Intel Corp.