A method, comprising: receiving, by a waveguide system including a waveguide structure, a first communication signal; launching, by the waveguide system, an electromagnetic wave according to the first communication signal; inducing by the waveguide system, according to the electromagnetic wave, a first guided electromagnetic wave on an outer surface of an insulation layer having a tapered end, wherein a portion of the insulation layer has a substantially uniform outer diameter, wherein the portion of the insulation layer is within the waveguide structure, wherein the tapered end is outside of the waveguide structure, wherein the insulation layer covers a first portion of a conductor, and wherein the insulation layer enables a first radial dimension of the first guided electromagnetic wave to increase as the first guided electromagnetic wave propagates longitudinally along the tapered end towards a second portion of the conductor, wherein the waveguide system comprises a transmitter for facilitating the inducing of the first guided electromagnetic wave on the outer surface of the insulation layer, wherein the insulation layer has a slit that enables placement of the insulation layer on the conductor by inserting the conductor through the slit into the insulation layer, and wherein the first guided electromagnetic wave is modulated with the first communication signal; receiving, by the waveguide system, a second guided electromagnetic wave that is distinct from the first guided electromagnetic wave; and converting, by the waveguide system, the second guided electromagnetic wave to a second communication signal; wherein the waveguide system comprises a receiver for facilitating the converting of the second guided electromagnetic wave to the second communication signal, and wherein a second radial dimension of the second guided electromagnetic wave is enabled by the insulation layer to decrease as the second guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the tapered end of the insulation layer towards the waveguide structure. receiving, by a waveguide system including a waveguide structure, a first communication signal; launching, by the waveguide system, an electromagnetic wave according to the first communication signal; inducing by the waveguide system, according to the electromagnetic wave, a first guided electromagnetic wave on an outer surface of an insulation layer having a tapered end, wherein a portion of the insulation layer has a substantially uniform outer diameter, wherein the portion of the insulation layer is within the waveguide structure, wherein the tapered end is outside of the waveguide structure, wherein the insulation layer covers a first portion of a conductor, and wherein the insulation layer enables a first radial dimension of the first guided electromagnetic wave to increase as the first guided electromagnetic wave propagates longitudinally along the tapered end towards a second portion of the conductor, wherein the waveguide system comprises a transmitter for facilitating the inducing of the first guided electromagnetic wave on the outer surface of the insulation layer, wherein the insulation layer has a slit that enables placement of the insulation layer on the conductor by inserting the conductor through the slit into the insulation layer, and wherein the first guided electromagnetic wave is modulated with the first communication signal; receiving, by the waveguide system, a second guided electromagnetic wave that is distinct from the first guided electromagnetic wave; and converting, by the waveguide system, the second guided electromagnetic wave to a second communication signal; wherein the waveguide system comprises a receiver for facilitating the converting of the second guided electromagnetic wave to the second communication signal, and wherein a second radial dimension of the second guided electromagnetic wave is enabled by the insulation layer to decrease as the second guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the tapered end of the insulation layer towards the waveguide structure.