Fiber optic communication began in 1970 with the development of low-loss optical fiber suitable for long-distance transmission.

The modern era of fiber optic communication started in 1970, when researchers at Corning Glass Works—Robert Maurer, Donald Keck, and Peter Schultz—developed the first low-loss optical fiber with attenuation low enough (about 20 dB/km) to make long-distance communication feasible, marking the birth of practical fiber optics . This breakthrough allowed light signals to travel over long distances without significant loss, enabling reliable data transmission.

Early Experiments and Conceptual Foundations

The concept of transmitting information using light dates back much earlier. In 1880, Alexander Graham Bell invented the photophone, which transmitted sound via a modulated light beam, demonstrating the potential of optical communication . In the 1950s, Harold Hopkins and Narinder Kapany showed that rolled glass fibers could guide light, laying the groundwork for fiber optics . Jun-ichi Nishizawa proposed using optical fibers for communication in 1963, further advancing the theoretical framework .

First Practical and Commercial Deployments

By 1977, General Telephone and Electronics (GTE) deployed the first non-experimental fiber-optic link in Long Beach, California, proving the technology's commercial viability . This was followed by broader adoption in the 1980s, including undersea fiber optic cables like AT&T's TAT-8 in 1988, which connected continents and demonstrated the global potential of fiber networks .

Key Technological Enablers

Several innovations made fiber optic communication practical:

• Low-loss glass fibers (1970) for long-distance transmission
• Semiconductor lasers (1960s–1970s) providing compact, coherent light sources
• Physical contact connectors (1986) improving signal quality and reducing reflection These developments collectively transformed fiber optics from a laboratory concept into a backbone of modern telecommunications, eventually supporting high-speed internet and global data networks. In summary, while the theoretical and experimental foundations date back to the late 19th and mid-20th centuries, fiber optic communication as a practical technology began in 1970 with Corning's low-loss fiber, leading to the first commercial deployments in the late 1970s.