While the technology advancements in our personal devices and processing systems have been rapid and profound, the progression in cabling and transmission mediums has been significantly slower. Although copper wire manufacturers have made some respectable improvements to their technology in recent years, they cannot compete with the more significant advancements and advantages of fiber optic systems.Cost: Miles of optical cables can be made for significantly cheaper than copper cables for an equivalent strength and length. Whether you are the direct B2B purchaser of the cables or the end user, you will experience a cost savings. Additionally, the transmitters that are used with optical fibers are low power as opposed to the high voltage electrical transmitters that copper wires require. Providers are able to pass these energy savings along to their consumers to remain competitive. And while set up costs for modern optical fiber systems can be greater in the short term, they are less costly to maintain, experience significantly less downtime, and typically require less networking hardware.
Bandwidth: Optical fiber is capable of readily transmitting high bandwidth data over moderate distances when compared to copper alternatives. The Telecommunications Industry Association reports that a Category 6A Cable can manage a bandwidth of 600 MHz over 100 meters, and would be able to carry the equivalent of 18,000 phone calls at one time. By comparison, Multimode Fibers have a bandwidth of over 1000 MHz, and could carry 30,000 simultaneous phone calls.
Distance: The reduction in your signal strength during transmission is known as the attenuation. Since fiber optic signals are made of light, very little signal loss is likely to occur during transmission, allowing data to move at higher speeds for longer distances. Additionally, a twisted pair copper cable has a 100 meter distance limitation that fiber optics are not inhibited by. Typically, fiber distances can stretch from 300 meters to 40 kilometers, or about 25 miles.
Design: The physical advantages of fiber over copper are irrefutable. With a lightweight, thin, and durable design, it is easier to transport and handle. Its small size not only means that it takes up less room, but allows for a greater number of lines to be installed, either above or below ground.
Safety: Fiber optic cables are dielectric materials, meaning that it is an electric insulator. On the other hand, copper wires carry a current, and could be the cause of a potential fire hazard if a break occurs. There have even been cases of thieves catching on fire when attempting to steal copper wires.
When first invented, copper wire was able to connect us to information we had been unable to reach previously. Now, thanks to fiber optic systems, the globe is being linked together to an unprecedented degree, allowing the world to experience the next generation of networks. Although some industries have been slow to adapt, the benefits of optical fiber technology promises many long-term benefits.
