present

CONNECTING THE WORlD

AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT

Overview of the case study

By 1957, many scientists were looking for a way to achieve maser-like amplification of visible light. In November of that year, Gordon Gould realized that one could make an appropriate optical resonator by using two mirrors in the form of a Fabry–Pérot interferometer.

1957

hero

Based on Einstein’s theory of light, Gordon Gould recorded his analysis and suggested applications in a laboratory notebook under the heading:

“Some rough calculations on the feasibility of a LASER:
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.”

the first recorded use of this acronym.

The first page of the notebook in which Gould coined the acronym LASER and described the essential elements for constructing one.

Gould’s notebook was the first written prescription for making a viable laser and, realizing what he had in hand, he took it to a neighborhood store to have his work notarized.

1959

Optical amplification (Laser)

by Gordon gould

In total, Gould obtained 48 patents related to the optical amplifier that covered 80% of the lasers on the market at the time of issuance.

DISCOVER

big idea

1972

1983

Gould co-founded an optical telecommunications equipment firm, Optelecom Inc.

hero

Gould hires Dr. David Huber at Optelecom for his expertise in optical amplification.

Working at Optelecom, Huber developed optical multiplexed sensors and a multiplexed fiber optic wideband data distribution system. In 1988, he joined General Instrument Corporation, where he patented several inventions, including Remote pumping for active optical devices, Method for producing a tunable erbium fiber laser, and wavelength selective coupler for high power optical communications.

These technologies were core elements of the wave division multiplexing (“WDM”) system developed by Huber.

DISCOVER

WAVE division multiplexing (WDM)

Fiber-optic communications technology which multiplexes a number of optical carrier signals onto a single optical fiber by using different wavelengths (i.e., colors) of laser light.

This technique enables bidirectional communications over a single strand of fiber, also called wavelength-division duplexing, as well as multiplication of capacity.

big idea

by DAVID HUBER

SPENCER TRASK SUPPORT

by KEvin kimberlin

The invention of the laser

Gordon Gould

Wave division multiplexing

David Huber

1993

Company co-founded by Kevin Kimberlin and David Huber, and aided by Optelecom.

Ciena corp
founded

create

Huber and Steve Alexander of Ciena invented the dual-stage optical amplifier that was a key to the first dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) system, marking the start of optical networking.

DUAL-STAGE
OPTICAL AMPLIFIER

Patented by ciena

Its significance was recognized at the time by optical authority, Shoichi Sudo and technology analyst, George Gilder in 1997, when Sudo wrote that optical amplifiers “will usher in a worldwide revolution called the Information Age” and

Gilder compared the optical amplifier to the importance of the integrated circuit, predicting that it would make possible the Age of Information.

optical fiber

1997

Ciena went public on NASDAQ in February 1997, and was the

ciena goes public

largest initial public offering of a startup company to date, with a valuation of $3.4 billion.

Ciena earned approximately $370 million in revenue and profits of $110 million for the fiscal year ending in October 1997.

Customers at the time included AT&T, Bell Atlantic, and Digital Teleport.

THE INTERNET

Ciena enabled the explosive growth of the Internet and serves as its foundation today. By 2019, Ciena was the #1 ranked innovator and the market share leader in high capacity networking, supporting 1,500 customers comprising 85% of the world’s largest communications providers.

TODAY

Optical amplification WDM systems are the common basis of all local, metro, national, intercontinental and subsea telecommunications networks and the technology of choice for the fiber optic backbones of the Internet.

LETS TALK

MASS ADOPTION OF

Inception of e-commerce
Amazon and Ebay launched

1995

The commercialisation of the internet Javascript introduced

1996

Hotmail is introduced

1997

Google and Napster launched

1998

Skype and Myspace launched

2003

Facebook is launched

2004

Youtube is launched

2005

Twitter is launched

2006

97 percent of telecom traffic is carried through the Internet.

2008