Editing Infrared (section)

=== Telecommunication bands ===

In [[optical communications]], the part of the infrared spectrum that is used is divided into seven bands based on availability of light sources, transmitting/absorbing materials (fibers), and detectors:<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ramaswami |first=Rajiv |date=May 2002 |title=Optical Fiber Communication: From Transmission to Networking |journal=IEEE Communications Magazine |volume=40 |issue=5 |pages=138–147 |doi=10.1109/MCOM.2002.1006983 |s2cid=29838317}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Band
! Descriptor
! Wavelength range
|-
| O band
| Original
| 1,260–1,360&nbsp;nm
|-
| E band
| Extended
| 1,360–1,460&nbsp;nm
|-
| S band
| Short wavelength
| 1,460–1,530&nbsp;nm
|-
| [[C band (infrared)|C band]]
| Conventional
| 1,530–1,565&nbsp;nm
|-
| L band
| Long wavelength
| 1,565–1,625&nbsp;nm
|-
| U band
| Ultralong wavelength
| 1,625–1,675&nbsp;nm
|}

The C-band is the dominant band for long-distance [[telecommunications network]]s. The S and L bands are based on less well established technology, and are not as widely deployed.