Optical fiber and space communications are key techniques of high capacity point-to point links and broadband network which are prerequisites for advanced interactive multimedia communications. This book describes the relevant components and systems. It is focussed on analysis, design, optimization and application aspects. Table of Contents Introduction Optical Sources and transmitters Laser Noise Optical Fibers Polarization Fluctuations Optical Detectors and Receivers Optical Amplifiers Optical Network Components Fundamentals Optical Communication Systems Incoherent Systems: Analysis and Optimization Coherent Systems: Analysis and Optimization Systems Comparison, Applications and Physical Limits Fiber Link Design Optical Networks Optical Space Communications Appendix Index