Refinements and optimization of optical networks toward meeting the bandwidth challenge

In this month's Optical Communications Series (OCS), we have selected contributions addressing developments in services toward meeting the continuing growth in bandwidth demand. As the global economy's slow recovery continues, we receive news/announcements of service provider and supplier initiatives addressing the brisk pace of global demand growth for Internet, video, TV, and telecommunications services. Moreover, national and local governments continue to develop programs and policies, such as the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's "Connecting America" initiative, to facilitate availability of broadband communications services. As telecommunications networks continue to develop, optical communications technologies promise to enable truly broadband communications-based services in such applications as long-distance education and tele-medicine.