(UNTITLED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86T01017R000605730002-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: January 12, 2017
• Document Release Date: March 25, 2011
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: February 20, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

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Central Intelligence Agency
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
20 February 1986
Chinese Fiber Optics -- An Update
Summary
Chinese fiber optics during the past 15 months reaffirms
China has made progress in research, but the
development of a fiber optics industry in China is very slow. China has
considerable problems in translating research results into quantity
production, and negotiations with foreign suppliers for fiber optics
production technology, while extensive, have been slow in coming to
fruition. Acquisition of foreign fiber optics production technology remains
a key element of China's strategy for developing a fiber optics network.
The Chinese military is the driving force behind research in fiber optics
and will be a key beneficiary of a fiber optics network.
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This memorandum was prepared by (Office of East Asian Analysis. 25X1
Information available as of 20 February 1986 was used in its preparation. Comments
and queries are welcome and may be directed to the Chief, Development Issues, China
Division, OEA, 25X1
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Chinese Fiber Optics Networks
there are at least 100 fiber optics systems installed
in a dozen cities throughout China. They range from 1.8 km to 30 km, and were
imported or built by pilot plants. At a conference in Beijing last fall, MPT officials said
the majority of these experimental systems are 8448 kilobits/second.
China is beginning work on several long distance fiber optics lines, and eventually
plans to install a fiber optics network paralleling the current microwave network. In
December 1985 China announced it will begin construction of a 2400 km fiber optic
trunkline connecting Nanjing, Wuhan, and Chongqing in 1986, with service to begin in
three years. Chinese telecommunications personnel apparently decided to use fiber
Indigenous R&D
Chinese officials report additional research results by Chinese facilities. For
example, Chinese press reports claim that tests of domestically produced longwave
semiconductor lasers in January 1986 showed technical standards and reliability close to
those of similar products manufactured abroad. (Development of longwave
semiconductor lasers was a major scientific research project under the Sixth Five Year
Plan--1980-85). Two Shanghai institutes were noted for development of a "device for
checking worn-out parts of optical fibers and locating the position of communication
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problems." Press reports of awards for achievements in fiber optics research have also
been noted
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Chinese research on single mode fiber optic
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continues to lag. The Minister of Post and Telecommunications has ordered more
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research on fiber optics, with emphasis on long wavelengths and single mode fiber
optics. He reportedly is also seeking more funds to finance additional fiber optics
research and to buy foreign fiber optic equipment.
It might also be worth noting that China has often exaggerated the performance
characteristics of their domestically produced systems (sometimes after producing only
a prototype) in order to obtain state-of-the-art foreign technology. Examples are
supercomputers and military weapons systems.
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China traditionally has had major problems in translating research results into
large-scale production. Obstacles include poor management, shortage of skilled workers
and mid-level technicians, and lack of familiarity with sophisticated production
processes. Even with foreign assistance, progress can be slow.
While China's fiber optics strategy of joint ventures or importing complete
production lines would eliminate this difficulty, other problems will remain. Despite
considerable effort in the last several years by the S&T leadership to link research and
production, we have seen no evidence that China has improved its abilities to bring fiber
optics research results to production.
Shanghai claims to produce 4,000 km of optical fiber annually, in addition to
lasers and components. Chinese press articles report the installation of a "batch' of
semiconductor lasers and the installation of new fiber optic production lines in several
Shanghai factories.
China's weak indigenous production capabilities are reflected in its considerable
effort to acquire foreign fiber optics production technology. China has continued to
approach nearly every major foreign producer of fiber optics related equipment. Within
the past year and a half, China has signed agreements to acquire a range of production
technology including multimode and singlemode optical fiber, and transmission
equipment with not only the UK but with US, Japanese, and European suppliers. For
example:
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? August 1985: NTT, (Japan) won a contract for consulting services associated
with the construction of the 660 km Ministry of Railroads network. NTT will be
responsible for selecting optical fibers and connectors, designing the
communications network as a whole and supervising operations. F__1
CIA's earlier assessment concluded that with foreign assistance, China could have
a fiber optics communications network in operation by 1991, based on the following
assumptions: startup production could begin within two years after procurement, with
deployment completed within two to three years thereafter. The delay in completing
foreign negotiations may have pushed back the date for an operational system, but we
believe this timetable continues to be appropriate. If China were forced to acquire
systems covertly or to develop them without foreign assistance, it could have a system
operating in 1995.
China has acquired a
substantial amount of fiber optic technology and equipment in the past from Japanese
and Western companies by circumventing COCOM controls. Most of this equipment has
been for use in China's R&D effort and primarily involves test instrumentation that can
be acquired easily through third country intermediaries.
The military is the driving force behind fiber optics development in China, with all
research, development and production activity placed under the unified direction of the
National Defense Science, Technology and Industry Commission in 1979. MPT officials
frankly admit the commonality between civilian and military needs. In late 1984, the
Chinese press reported that Shanghai's military industrial departments had selected
optical fibers as one area for expanded cooperation with civilian departments--part of
Beijing's program to more closely link military and civilian research and production
enterprises.
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Distribution:
Copy 1
Copy 2
Copy 3
Copy 4
Copy 5
Copy 6
Copy 7
Copy 8
Copy 9
Copy 10-11 -
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TTAC, Room 5D38
Mr. Tom Fingar, State/INR
C/OEA/CH, 4G-32, Hqs.
C/OEA/CH/FOR, 4G-32, Hqs.
C/OEA/CH/DEF, 4G-32, Hqs.
C/OEA/CH/DOM, 4G-32, Hqs.
OEA/Research Director, 4G-48, Hqs.
D/OEA, 4F-18, Hqs
DDI, 7E-44, Hqs.
Senior Review Panel, 5G-00, Hqs.
C/PES, Room 7F-24
PDB Staff, Room 7F-30
NIO/EA, 7E-62, Hqs.
C/DO/PPS, 3D-01, Hqs.
FBIS/NEAAD/China Branch, 306, Key
5E-18, Hqs.
OCR/ISG, 1H-19, Hqs.
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Copy 26 - CPAS/ILS, Room 7G-50
Copy 27-31 -
Copy 32
Copy 33
CPAS/IMC/CB, Room 7G-07
Chrono
Author
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