Optimized NZDSF-based link for wide-band seamless terrestrial transmissions

We have designed and manufactured an optimized nonzero dispersion shifted fibre (NZDSF) based link for wide-band seamless terrestrial transmissions through minimization of higher-order dispersion (up to 4/sup th/-order dispersion). This link is composed of a new low-slope NZDSF with optimum dispersion of /spl sim/8 ps/nm-km and slope of /spl sim/0.03 ps/nm/sup 2/-km@1550 nm and a matched dispersion compensated fibre (DCF) in a module with low and flat attenuation over the S-, C- and L-bands. A maximum link-dispersion variation of /spl plusmn/0.18 ps/nm-km over 165 nm-bandwidth ranging from 1460 to 1625 nm was experimentally demonstrated. This is to our knowledge the lowest dispersion variation reported to date over such a wide bandwidth.