FIBER OPTICS IN COMMUNICATION NETWORKS: TRENDS, CHALLENGES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Fiber optics in communication networks played a significant role as far as raising transmission rates and expanding the network. New directions address the issues of scalability and management to open the path toward the subsequent generation application across 6G, sensing, and quantum connections. This review study explores the developments, issues, and prospects of fiber optic communication technologies that comprise current highspeed low delay networks. From the study, it would be possible to analyze the most recent advancements in fiber optics, their environmental impact, and potential economic benefit, as well as possible application of future technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance networks’ performance. The approach entails a review of the existing literature of fiber optic systems, the latest technologies like DWDM, advanced modulation techniques, and integration of the fiber with 5G networks. These outcomes reveal that fiber optics has revolutionized data transmission through offering considerable capacity, low loss, and excellent security despite some scaling and network management challenges. The future of fiber optical communications is conditioned with the development of quantum communications, silicon photonics, and AI for optimizing the system, and the possible uses in the 6G network, sensing, and imaging. These technologies are expected to act as enablers of the next generation of communication infrastructure for the global world with speeds and heightened security measures.