Wired data communication; evolution and impact on semiconductor technologies

Existing networks are overloaded by data traffic. This article shows possible evolution paths towards higher capacity and gives some examples of the latest developments to overcome fiber capacity limitations and fiber impairments which are reducing the data transmission performance. These developments are based on ultra high speed chips and on novel high speed and complex circuits. Such circuits can be realized only with the most advanced semiconductor technologies with parameters optimized for these data transmission applications.