Inline amplifier transmission experiments over 4500 km at 2.5 Gb/s

An inline amplifier system was constructed with erbium-doped fiber amplifiers spaced at 100 km and 80 km intervals. The system transmits 2.5 Gb/s signals over 2500 km with continuous-phase frequency-shift-keying heterodyne detection and over 4500 km with intensity-modulation direct detection. With respect to amplifier output signal power levels, it is experimentally shown that there exists a dynamic range within which long-distance signal transmission can be achieved with only small receiver sensitivity degradation. The range's upper and lower limits are determined by fiber nonlinearities and amplifier noise characteristics, respectively.<
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