Previously, copper cables were widely used in telecommunications and data transmission. However, fiber optics has been an excellent substitute for this, and it has gained increasing momentum and recognition, revolutionizing the world of data transmission and communications.
But what is fiber optics? Below we will give you all the information you need to know about it and the advantages that it presents compared to the method used with copper cable.
Table of Contents
What is fiber optics?
Optical fiber is a means of data and code transmission, widely used in telecommunications, electronic or medical equipment. Consisting of thousands of tiny fibers made of glass or plastic, these strands are as thin as a strand of a person’s hair.
Something exciting is that the transmission of data through the optical fiber is in the form of light; that is to say, it interprets light as information. But, despite this, it is still a physical means of transmitting the information. We can physically feel it. This is sent by an LED diode or a laser and travels through the entire optical fiber.
To carry out this phenomenon, a principle of physics is used, in which light travels through glass. However, this does not work with any glass, as some cause the loss of information; So a special glass is used, which must be eliminated from all kinds of impurities, and be malleable to be easily worked on the cables.
[Also Read: How can I know if my phone is tapped?]
Advantages of fiber optics when replacing copper
- Fiber optic cables weigh less than copper cables, making them easier to transport.
- Optical fiber has a much higher transmission speed than copper cables. In the case of the internet, the latter transmit information at a speed of 1GB every 90 meters, while fiber travels at a speed of up to 10GB every 300 meters.
- Using glass in fiber manufacture, a dielectric (electrical insulator) material, is not affected by electrical signals or waves. This represents a significant advantage in telecommunications. It is immune to electromagnetic waves, which cause annoying audio or sound distortions, something very common to happen when using copper wire connections.
- Likewise, the distances at which the fiber transmits data are very long since it has repeaters inside it that help light travel long distances without losing information.
- And finally, using this material in communication systems and networks minimizes cable theft; since unlike copper, which can be mined and used or sold for different purposes, fiber optics once removed from the cable is useless for anything else.
Disadvantages
- Unfortunately, due to its delicate manufacture, optical fiber is higher in price than copper cables.
- Likewise, as this material is so fragile, the installation must be done by a professional company dedicated to this.
- And splicing this fiber is something complicated because of all the filaments it has.
Fiber-optic telecommunications
This material is ideal for connections to Wi-Fi networks, telephone, radio, television, and more. And some companies offer cheap fiber optic telecommunications services. In these you can find rates and offers on telephone lines and the internet with this material, we know that the advantages are many.