Half of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Charles K. Kao for his achievements that paved the path to the large optical fiber communications network around the World. It is true that without optical fibers, and without Kao's propositions, the actual panorama of long distance telephony, internet, mobile communications and even the World Wide Web would never be possible. An overview of the historic & technology developments in Optics, Electromagnetism and Materials that permitted the proposal of optical fiber as a suitable propagation medium will be presented.