Modern fiber-optic communication systems generally include optical transmitters that convert electrical signals into optical signals, to carry the signal, optical amplifiers, and optical receivers to convert the signal back into an electrical signal. Theoretical studies of the performance of optical transmission systems have always sought to establish a practical limit. Since 2009, this limit has been commonly called the "nonlinear Shannon limit" [1-2] and a consensus has begun to form regarding the actual maximum. The light is a form of carrier wave that is modulated to carry information. Today, that standard is 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, though many providers offer much faster speeds. The maximum rate at which data can be transmitted over a communication channel without errors is defined by a theoretical boundary known as the Shannon Limit.
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