This one-of-a-kind book makes modern optical fiber communication systems easy to understand. It provides an up-to-date, comprehensive overview of the principles and operation of present-day optical fiber communications, without the use of advanced mathematics. Starting with the nature of information, Understanding Optical Fiber Communications goes on to clearly explain the ideas behind information measurement, signals and bandwidth, digital coding, modulation, optical transmission along fibers, optical detectors, demodulation, system design, networking, and nonlinear optics. A final chapter on more advanced topics brings professionals up to date with recent developments. This is an ideal introductory-level book for sales and marketing personnel, business managers in telecommunications, technicians, and students interested in the ideas behind the telecommunications medium of the future. - Back cover.