ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a survey of the so-called integrated technology that is the technology leveraging planar processes to manufacture electronics and optical components. The most used structure for lateral confinement is the so-called index-confined architecture, where the optical mode is confined in the laser-active region by realizing an optical waveguide whose core is the active region itself. The distributed feedback laser diode array might be the most promising configuration for wavelength division multiplexing optical communication systems due to its stable and highly reliable single-mode operation. The most important of those components is the semiconductor laser, both for the huge number of telecom and non-telecom applications and for the key role it plays in telecom equipments. The chapter analyzes the impact of electronic evolution on telecommunication equipments. It aims to understand achievements and challenges for microelectronics when used in telecommunication applications and in particular in electronic equalization of transmission distortions and in switch fabrics.
