Abstract: A method of fabrication of preforms for manufacturing of optical fibers based on surface plasma wave chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is proposed. A surface plasma wave of either the symmetric E.sub.01 or the hybrid HE.sub.11 type is excited on the outside surface of a dielectric starting body. The plasma leads to a CVD of doped or undoped silica layers to obtain the preform. The advantages of the method are the absence of any moving parts in the machinery, high deposition rates, minimal precursor gas usage. Equipment to carry out this process is described as well.