Fiber optical networks provides a quick and easy solution to the distance and capacity limitations of traditional SANs. Spawned by the fiber-optic cable technologies in the early 80's, optical networks provide a high-capacity telecommunications network based on fiber optical technologies. Optical networks address increasing bandwidth issues as well as provide a higher capacity and reduce overall costs. The first digital networks were asynchronous networks. Asynchronous is usually used to describe communications in which data can be transmitted intermittently rather than in a steady stream.