Fiber optic technology has seen immense growth over the last several years and can be found in many interesting aspects of our everyday lives. While more and more people are hearing about this, not much is known and understood about fiber optic structured cabling and what it entails. These optical fibers are long and thin strands of pure glass whose size is similar to that of human hair. The bundled strands are also called optical cables and are used to transmit signals over long distances.
Incidentally, fiber optics is currently a major building block in the infrastructure of telecommunications. It has high bandwidth capabilities and low attenuation qualities that make it ideal for gigabit transmission and beyond. But how does it size up against other mediums for Internet connectivity?
Fiber Optics vs Copper vs Cable
Copper cabling has undoubtedly preceded all other connection mediums in “wiring” offices. For more than a century, copper wires have been used for transmitting voice signals, but they offer very limited bandwidth for today’s data-heavy functions.
Cable Internet – though often confused with fiber – actually makes use of the coaxial wire that connects to your TV set. The quality of a cable connection does not rely on distance, so speed is guaranteed regardless; however, this type of connection is typically shared amongst other users, making it a less secure option than fiber.
The obvious edge of fiber optic cabling over copper and cable is its significantly faster transmission. Compared to both mediums, fiber optic connections are less likely to experience signal loss, especially when traveling long distances. According to a study on attenuation levels, fiber loses a mere three percent signal strength versus copper’s 94 percent over a distance of more than 100 meters. Cable connections, on the other hand, have low upload speeds and can slow down depending on regional usage.
Another advantage of fiber optics over copper and cable wiring is its resistance to electromagnetic interference. Incorrectly installed copper wires can produce electromagnetic currents that can interfere with other cables and can cause complete network failure. And since fiber optic wires do not conduct electricity, they are not a fire hazard.
The Benefits of Fiber Optics
Today, nearly every communication network contains fiber optics, mainly because of its convenient and low-cost solution to an ever-increasing amount of private and commercial data. Home users and business owners constantly demand the ability to stream data requiring thousands of kilobytes per second. Moreover, the rising demand for extensive physical cable and Internet networks has resulted in a need to greatly pull down the cost and physical space needed for installation. In both scenarios, a fiber optic system is far superior to copper or cable lines.
The high efficiency and low cost of fiber optic structured cabling has also caused large-scale replacement of copper land and undersea trunk lines, and has significantly enhanced the quality of long-distance phone and data transmissions. Additionally, fiber optic systems are much easier to repair or replace when needed, and are not at the mercy of the same data transmission limitations that other connection mediums face. Despite its glaring benefits, fiber optics is still expected to grow and develop in the coming years. Keep exploring your options. It may be time for you to make the switch from your DSL or cable connection to fiber optics.
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