The need for advanced transmission techniques over long haul optically amplified communications has prompted a convergence of digital and optical communications. Digital Optical Communications explores the practical applications of this union and applies digital modulation techniques to optical communications systems. After reviewing the fundamentals of modern communications, the book focuses on enhancements to digital technology that are leading to greater effectiveness within ultra-high capacity networks. It highlights the use of communication techniques in both optical transmission systems and networks, such as binary and quadrature amplitude shift keying, differential shift keying, continuous phase shift keying, and multi-level modulation. The author minimizes unwieldy mathematical analysis and instead emphasizes operation principles. Supplemented with case studies and numerous examples, the book provides the theoretical foundations and technical developments required to engineer faster transmissions. A practical survey of advanced aspects of modulation techniques, this book provides a fundamental understanding of the application of digital communication techniques to optical communication technology.