The chromatic pulse dispersion of a light beam in an optical fibre can be equalized by dispersing the light beam into a spectrum, detecting different portions of the spectrum and producing signals related to each portion, applying different time delays to the signals and then combining the signals to provide an output. The spectrum can be divided into discrete portions having a range of wavelengths, with optical delay lines, optical filters, and multiple section photodetectors used. The spectrum can be formed on one surface of a PIN diode, having the I layer of a thickness which varies along the length, giving in effect division of the spectrum into an infinite number of portions.