30, 20, and 10 Years Ago

“An extensive lightwave communications network is already in place and it carries much information over great distances. However, in a closer look, we find that lightwave technology today is where telegraphy was 100 years ago: it is exclusively used in point-to-point communications! … The hope is that the ability to route light signals directly will open many possibilities in new network schemes that eventually could translate into new services”