The world of telecommunications has been quickly transitioning from copper wire networks to fiber optics. While each has its own unique characteristics and advantages, ICT professionals are leaning towards the use of fiber optics due to its increased bandwidth and shrinking cost. However, before you decide whether copper or fiber is the right fit for your application, you should take a look at the Benefits of fiber optic cables.
Fiber Supports Very High Bandwidth Levels
When it comes to bandwidth, fiber optic cables have a high carrying capacity that can transfer more data than copper cables of the same diameter. This is especially true of the single mode fiber — commonly used in telecommunications over 1km. Moreover, one of the greater advantages includes fiber’s performance not being limited by the
cable itself.
Instead, the cable is limited by the system’s electronic components. So long as you continually upgrade the components, the fiber cabling should be good to go. Additionally, with fiber optic wiring, latency decreases which allows for greater download and upload speed. This results in faster access to resources. More than that, fiber optic wiring can transfer data across longer distances without delays or interferences.
Fiber Is Inherently Secure
One of the greatest
benefits of using fiber optic cables is their security feature. Because fiber cables do not emit signals, tapping in or intercepting data transmission is difficult. Since signals in fiber travel via the individual fiber strands, in order to intercept a signal, it must be accessed from the end of the cable by directly cutting into it. However, this would take the network down, which will alert telecommunications service providers of the issue.
Fiber is Intrinsically Safe
With regard to fiber’s physical properties, because data transfer does not require electricity, it is completely safe to handle. Additionally, fiber optic cables are not impacted by changes in temperature, poor weather, or humidity. So if your fiber cable has been dampened by rain water, no need to worry, communication will go on as usual.
Or, if your fiber cable is struck by lightning, there will not be a surge of electricity propagated because the cable does not contain any metallic components. Moreover, fiber optic cables emit less heat, so it is unlikely that a portion of the cable will overheat and ignite a fire.
More than that, if your fiber optic cables are in a dense environment, no need to worry about crosstalk between cables — which causes data-transmission interruptions and performance issues. Since fiber cables do not produce electromagnetic interference (EMI), putting them beside other
industrial equipment is not a problem at all.
Additionally, these lightweight transceivers are incredibly easy to transport and install with a reduced risk of injury in comparison to copper networks whose conductivity pose both a fire and shock hazard. As a result, companies that use copper networks are bound by the cost of potential insurance claims. And, if you’re concerned about the environmental impact of fiber optic cables, their lightweight quality and low energy output means a small carbon footprint on the environment.