Worldwide activities and fiber optic market trends: Part I—markets

Abstract

Abstract This paper reviews the recent progress of fiber optics applications worldwide and assesses the potential market growth. Market growth will occur at the expense of existing or planned technologies, such as the circular waveguide, and hence, the potential market growth must be considered in light of these existing markets. Although the application of fiber optics technology is developing rapidly, there are certain countries which are progressing more rapidly than others. Each of the major countries or groups will be discussed, and the reasons for the activity or lack thereof will be given. The impact of fiber optics on the third world is yet to be felt; however, this may be one of the areas of future potential growth. In order to give the reader an indication of the extent of applications that have occurred in the telephone, data, power, CATV, and military sectors, a complete listing and review of over 100 experimental systems is provided in Part II of this paper.