Abstract
The improved sensitivity of the optical heterodyne receiver can be used for long haul transmission applications. In addition, the high selective optical heterodyne receiver is applicable to demultiplex an optical carrier frequency system. Therefore a distribution system can be established in the subscriber area, in which each subscriber can select one out of a big number of programs without switching functions in the central exchange. Here a ten-channel experimental system is presented, in which the main features of the new coherent optical multichannel subscriber line technique can be studied. It is foreseen that an optical carrier frequency system will be superior to a time division multiplex transmission system.