Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents: Introduction -- From point-to-point to networking -- Light sources -- Optical fibers -- Light detection -- Noise in optical communications -- Incoherent detection -- Networking -- Time-domain medium access -- Wavelength-domain medium access -- Subcarrier multiplexing -- Photonic switching -- Signal processing: Direct modulation -- Distributed-feedback laser diodes and modulation -- External modulation -- Coherent detection -- Timing recovery and line coding -- Optical amplification -- Optical fibre solition transmission -- Appendix A: Important physical and mathematical constants -- B: International system of units -- C: Important physical constants of compounds -- D: Important variable definitions -- E: Useful mathematical formulas.