An optical modulator provides for preceding of a high data rate phase modulated
optical signal. According to one embodiment, the modulator includes a first phase
modulator and a second phase modulator. The first phase modulator modulates an
optical carrier signal according to a first data signal to generate a modulated
optical signal. The second phase modulator modulates the modulated optical signal
according to a time delayed version of its optical output signal. According to
another embodiment, the modulator electrically precodes multiple data streams and
modulates the precoded data streams using a series of phase modulators to generate
a precoded optical data signal.