• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.48-61
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• 2024

The integration of high-capacity terrestrial networks with non-terrestrial communication using satellites has become essential to support seamless low-latency services based on artificial intelligence and big data. Tunable light sources have been instrumental in resolving the complexity of channel management in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems, contributing to increased network flexibility and serving as optical sources for long-distance coherent systems. Recently, these light sources have been applied to beam-steering devices in laser communication and sensing applications across ground, aerial, and satellite transport. We examine the utilization and requirements of tunable lasers in WDM networks and describe the relevant development status. In addition, performance requirements and development directions for tunable lasers used in optical interference systems and beam-steering devices are reviewed.