Optoelectronics for large scale optical backplanes

Optical backplanes based on todays' technologies can offer important advantages to both manufacturers of telecommunications platforms and telecommunications service providers. The DACS VI-2000 digital access and cross-connect system was the first vehicle to have massive intrasystem optical interconnection in a commercially mass produced platform. Future technologies based on Optiflex, integrated array optics, and perhaps graded index plastic optical fiber will offer attractive cost reduction and system capacity enhancements paths in the near future.