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Based on work by Technology Task Group 1 (TTE‐1) for the IEEE‐USA/Cornell workshop on US telecommunications’ evolution. States the task group’s activity focused on local access Contains discussions on how fibre optics are used today and can be used in the future. Touches also on the technical and non‐technical challenges that a fibre to the home or fibre to the building network may face.

The paper seeks to explore the impact of a fibre optic network and increased bandwidth on access to electronic resources for libraries in Malawi.

This research adopted a case study methodology. Online interviews were conducted with ICT Directors in colleges of the University of Malawi and Mzuzu University. The ICT Directors provided information on bandwidth levels and estimated costs for libraries using VSAT and fibre optics for internet connectivity. User statistics from INASP for the years 2006, 2011 and 2012 were the main sources of information.

Libraries in Malawi have been affected by the fibre optic network. The fibre optic network has increased bandwidth from a maximum of 1,024 in Kbps around 2006 to between 4 and 8 Mbps per month. Bandwidth costs have been reduced from an average of $US3,000/Mbps in 2006 to around US$1,700/Mbps per month in 2012. The number of articles downloaded has increased from 6,075 in 2006 to 50,860 in 2011, representing a 737 per cent increase. Half‐year statistics for 2012 reveal that the number of articles downloaded increased from 50,860 in 2011 to 81,633, representing a 60.5 per cent increase.

The paper has practical implications on the impact of a fibre optic network and improved bandwidth on access to e‐resources in libraries.

There is an information gap on the impact of fibre optic internet connectivity and improved bandwidth on access to e‐resources in libraries in Africa, and in Malawi to be specific. This research paper seeks to fill and bridge the gap.

Describes the author's work on the development of fibre sensors and networks for monitoring trace gases such as methane, acetylene, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide and for detection of spills of gasoline, diesel and organic solvents, all of which are important in environmental and safety management. As an example, a 45‐point fibre optic sensor network has been installed on a landfill site to assess the distribution of methane generation across the site. System operation is based on near‐IR absorption and is currently being extended to monitor other gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. Concurrently, research is being conducted on fibre lasers for the realisation of multi‐point, multi‐gas monitoring systems. Based on other principles (periodic micro‐bending loss effects), detection of hydrocarbon fuel spills has been demonstrated at multiple locations along the length of a specially designed fibre optic cable using standard optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) measurements.

Integration of lasers and fibre optics into robotic systems provides new opportunities in sensing and material processing. Increased productivity and application of robots in hostile environments are other possibilities.

Creates a future history of the evolution of the US telecommunications network infrastructure, by combining a scenario approach with the tool of concept mapping to explain how optical fibre technologies became the dominant technologies in that infrastructure.

Broadband networks, enabling high‐speed and always‐on Internet connections, are now seen by many to be critical for economic growth and development, both at the national and global level. Much energy has been invested in the deployment of broadband infrastructure around the world, and governments and industry have now begun addressing the demand side of the broadband challenge, i.e. ways in which to encourage take‐up among users. The present article zooms in on one of the leading countries in broadband, Iceland. It examines the main strategies, policies and regulations in place for promoting broadband in a country that has the world’s highest number of Internet users per capita, and posits on the main opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

This paper seeks to identify policy and regulatory bottlenecks that need to be overcome in order to stimulate private sector investment in backbone networks in selected African countries (Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda).

It does so by exploring policy and regulatory frameworks and market structures that influence investment decisions on backbone infrastructure roll‐out; it investigates models and strategies adopted by the public sector to finance national backbone infrastructure; and it provides recommendations on how to stimulate private investment in backbone roll‐out by creating an enabling policy and regulatory environment.

Research findings show that the telecommunications sector in the selected African countries has witnessed the return of state‐led investment in the roll‐out of fibre backbones. The rationale for state‐led intervention has often been cited as market failure regarding investment in broadband backbone roll‐out. However, many of the policy and regulatory barriers to market entry remain, including protectionist legislation, which has limited private sector participation in investing in backbone.

The reality is that African governments are maintaining control over national backbones and, in some markets where the telecommunications infrastructure sector has been liberalised, the state‐owned operators may enter into direct competition with the private sector or may delay delivery by the private sector.

The value of the paper is that it provides evidence on how to improve the roll‐out and extension of national broadband backbone networks through the development of a policy and regulatory framework which facilitates private sector investment in this sector. The paper also makes recommendations to governments for the facilitation of private investment in backbone networks through the development of an enabling policy and regulatory environment.

The information superhighway (ISH) has created a number of new opportunities and services. In order to allow the development of the new network system, some technological requirements and solutions will be necessary. Promotes the awareness and understanding of integrating new technologies for corporate and industrial ISH processes. Includes the implementation on a wide scale of fibre‐optic wires and asynchronous transfer mode technologies and the compatibility problems between different platforms and communication devices. Agreements on standards and common rules throughout different manufacturers and different nations will be essential in order to achieve the foreseen integration and compatibility of the system.

This paper gives a brief overview of requirements within the aerospace market sector for which optical sensors are of potential benefit, and goes on to describe sensors currently under development at Lucas Electrical and Electronic Systems which are primarily intended to meet some of these requirements. These sensors, based on the combination of silicon micromachining and optical sensing technologies, are sufficiently robust to provide the capability of directly measuring on‐engine parameters such as pressure and temperature. In association with FADEC‐mounted interface units, to which the sensor heads are coupled via optical fibre links, the sensors have the potential to provide measurement data for a number of aero‐engine control requirements.