The first fiber laser was operated in a Nd-doped glass fiber and was transversely pumped by coiling the fiber around a flash lamp. It consisted of a diode pump laser, and a wavelength selective coupler that allowed the pump wavelength to enter the fiber transmission system without disturbing the signal. Fiber lasers have potential applications in production of ultra-short pulses as well as in distance communications where optically transmitted signal can obtain a direct optical "boost" or amplification as it travels from one continent to another. This supersedes the earlier technique of converting the optical signal to an electrical one, amplifying it, and then re-inserting it into the fiber for further optical transmission.