Apparatus and methods for communicating with ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves

A first system, comprising:

• a processing system including a processor;
• and
• a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
• receiving a modulated signal in a spectral segment for communicating with a communication device in the spectral segment, wherein the modulated signal conforms to a signaling protocol;
• generating a first plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves, wherein the first plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves conveys the modulated signal in another spectral segment without modifying the signaling protocol;
• and
• transmitting the first plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves via a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the first plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves is directed to a second system, wherein the surface is located on a span of the transmission medium, wherein the span is supported by a first supporting structure and a second supporting structure, wherein the first system and the second system are coupled to the span, and wherein the first plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves propagates along the span of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path and without traversing the first supporting structure or the second supporting structure.

A first waveguide system, comprising:

• a processing system including a processor;
• and
• a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
• receiving a first plurality of communication signals;
• generating a first plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves according to the first plurality of communication signals, wherein the first plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves conveys the first plurality of communication signals;
• and
• guiding the first plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves to a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the surface is located on a first span of the transmission medium, wherein the first span is supported by a first supporting device and a second supporting device, wherein the first waveguide system and a second waveguide system are coupled to the first span, wherein the first plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves is directed to the second waveguide system, and wherein the first plurality of ultra-wideband electromagnetic waves propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path and without traversing the first supporting device or the second supporting device.