What is the Advantage and Disadvantage of fiber optic cables

08 Apr.,2024

 

What is Fiber Optic?

People talk about fiber optic cable, not realizing that these aren't the standard wires. Fiber optics are long and thin strands of glass. The glass is pure, and they are no thicker than a human hair. Bundles of fiber optics sit together, and that's known as optical cables. They are used to transmit light over a very long distance. Optical fibers pulse light along the strand for long-distance and high-performance data networking.

Who Invented Fiber Optics?

Fiber optic was once known as "Optical Waveguide Fibers" and was invented by Peter Schultz, Donald Keck, and Robert Maurer. It has the capability of carrying 65,000 times more information than standard copper wires. Their invention changed the way we use fiber optics, and they enabled fiber optics to be commercialized, between the telephone service and the internet. Fiber optics are even used in medical industries for equipment like the endoscope.

Are Fiber Optics Worth it?

The best-known solution for internet communications today is fiber optics. Fiber optic internet is requested more than any other type because of the speed in which the connection can travel. Fiber optic internet also has lower latency than other known technologies. With the right conduits deploying fiber optic internet, it can last up to fifty years. The best bit is that it doesn't cost too much to replace, which is a big concern for many deciding whether it's a good investment for their business.

What is Fiber Optic Internet?

Fiber optic internet is an internet connection that uses fiber optics to transmit data. It is a newer technology than traditional cable or ADSL connections and offers faster speeds, greater reliability, and better security than other types of internet service. Fiber optic cables are made of strands of glass or plastic that use light signals to send information, allowing for much faster transmission rates than traditional copper cables.

Additionally, fiber optic technology is more reliable than copper because it doesn’t experience interference from electrical signals like other internet services do. Finally, fiber optic networks are extremely secure compared to traditional networks since they use light pulses instead of electricity to transmit data.

Choosing a fiber optic internet connection is an excellent way to ensure that you have the reliable, secure, and ultra-fast speeds you need for your home or business. With its numerous advantages, fiber optics is the perfect choice for those who want the best internet performance. But it's important to be aware of the pros and cons of fiber optics before deciding - read on to learn more!

Pros and Cons of Fiber Optics

At FieldEngineer.com, you will find a wide bank of Fiber Optics experts to work on installing your fiber optic internet for your business. You must understand the advantages of fiber optics and the disadvantages of fiber optics before you invest, so we've put together a comprehensive list to help!

Advantages of Fiber Optics

  • Quality connections are a must for a business looking for high-speed internet. Fiber optic internet allows you to get the quality that you need. Electromagnetic interference is caused by electromagnetic radiation on the outside. Fiber optics are resistant to this, which will enable you to have high connection quality.
  • Compared to other connection options, fiber optics are scalable and can grow with your business. The wavelengths can be switched on and off as you need them to be, enabling you to grow your business as you please. Optical fibers are lighter than the traditional copper wiring options, and fiber can be placed up to 20 years in advance.
  • Highly secure, fiber optics do not give off any signals. You can guarantee that your data will be secure because of the fact that there is no way to listen in on the light pulses as they transmit. It's much easier to maintain your organization's security when you use fiber optics, and a skilled fiber optic engineer can confirm it.
  • While the investment into fiber optics may seem steep, fiber optic networks do not require the same investment as the copper networks. The chance to scale outweighs the cost of financing, and this should still come down over time as fiber optics become more popular.

Disadvantages of Fiber Optics

As with anything, there are disadvantages to consider before you invest in new fiber optic internet for your business. 

  • As fiber is lighter and thinner than another metal wiring, it's important to note that it is prone to physical damage. Fiber optic cables are easy to cut accidentally when building renovations are going on, and even just one cut cable can be disruptive. It's important to note this before installation so that you can mark where the wires are for the future.
  • The costs of fiber optics are lower over the long term, but they are still expensive to install. You need to have specialist equipment to check all is working as it should, and you also need to have the right worker on hand to set up the fiber optics equipment for you. This can cost more than you expect and so it can help to be aware of what you need to include in your budget. 
  • When too much light is pulsed through the wires and meets with an imperfection in the glass fibers, a fiber fuse occurs. This can destroy cables in a very short amount of time.
  • There are excellent reasons to get fiber optics, but one disadvantage is in the fact that it can only propagate light in one direction. When this happens, data and communication can only move in one direction, so you need to lay more than one cable to achieve information going both ways.

These disadvantages should be considered, but fiber optics are taking over very quickly. It wouldn't be good to be behind, so speaking to an expert at FieldEngineer.com today will make a big difference.

Fiber optic communication has revolutionized the telecommunications industry. Unlike traditional transmission methods that send signals through metallic-based systems, fiber optics are not electrical in nature. The transmission device generates a light signal, which the fiber cable carries to a receiver. The fiber optic thread is not an active source that generates electricity.

Fiber optic connections don’t degrade over distance, unlike cable broadband and DSL, allowing for consistent premium data transfer speeds. However, fiber optic connections also come with some limitations. Their high performance is pricey,  cost of such service does limit range. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of fiber optic communication networks.

Pros of Fiber Optics

1) Connection Quality: Fiber optics are resistant to electromagnetic interference and have a low rate of bit error. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a disturbance caused by electromagnetic radiation from an external source. This disturbance can interrupt or degrade the performance of a conventional metallic cable connection. Any object that carries electrical currents can create interference, such as power lines or even the sun. Fiber optics are also resistant to corrosion.

2) Scalability:  Fiber optics are more scalable, as it’s simple to install new equipment can over original fiber. Wavelengths can be turned on or off on demand, which allows for the easy provisioning of services and quick scaling for a growing business. Optical fibers are also much smaller and lighter than copper wiring. These fibers can typically be placed in preparation for growth needs up to 15 to 20 years in the future.  Alternatively, additional cables can be installed later to make way for network expansion.

3) Security:  Security is a major concern for today’s businesses. Fiber optics do not radiate signals, so there is no way to listen in on the transmissions passing through. Breaches are also easy to identify as soon as they occur, as any physical break in the system will cause a total system failure. Instead of hardware in several locations, fiber optic networks allow you to keep hardware in one location. This makes regulation and maintenance much simpler.

4) Long-Term Cost-Effectiveness: Long term, fiber optic networks do not require the same overhead as copper networks. Fiber optic networks are more expensive upfront. However, the capacity for scalability long-term outweighs the initial investment. As the popularity of fiber optics grows, we are likely to see a decrease in cost over time.

Cons of Fiber Optics

Although fiber optic networks present many advantages, there are also some disadvantages to take into consideration. These include physical damage, cost considerations, structure, and the possibility of a “fiber fuse”.

1) Physical Damage: Fiber is thinner and lighter than metallic wiring, so it makes for a more delicate system. Because fiber optic cables are small, they can be easily cut by accident during building renovations or rewiring. As fiber optic cables can transmit much more data than metallic networks, fewer cables service a greater number of people. This means that cutting just one cable could disrupt service for a large number of businesses and individuals. Fibers are also sensitive to bending, making laying fibers around corners a tricky business. Fiber optic networks are also susceptible to radiation damage or chemical exposure.

2) Short-Term Cost Effectiveness: Although costs are lower over the long term, fiber installation costs can still cost a pretty penny to implement. Special test equipment is often required along with installers that have skilled knowledge about laying a fiber optic network. Fiber endpoints and connection nexuses also require special equipment and setup. In addition, it may take specialized equipment to diagnose an issue with a fiber optics network, making for higher-cost fixes should the cables sustain damage.

3) Fiber Fuse: At high power, fiber optic networks are also susceptible to something known in the industry as “fiber fuse”. This occurs when too much light meets with an imperfection in the fiber. This occurrence can destroy long lengths of cable in a short amount of time.

4) Unidirectional Light Propagation: Fiber cables are also limited in the sense that they can only propagate light in one direction. If bidirectional communication is a necessary part of information transmission within a network, two concurrent cables must be laid in order to achieve bidirectional propagation of information.

Although there are some disadvantages to having a fiber optic network, the technology is quickly taking the market by storm, and prices continue to drop significantly. Industry experts anticipate the compound annual growth rate of the fiber optics industry will be 9.8% by 2021.

Find Fiber Optic Technicians

If you’re looking to make the switch to fiber optics, Field Nation has 20,000+ fiber optic technicians qualified to complete projects at commercial and industrial site locations. Not sure if you’re ready to make the investment just yet? Field Nation has 82,000+ networking technicians, skilled in installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting traditional metallic-based systems.

What is the Advantage and Disadvantage of fiber optic cables

Pros and Cons of Fiber Optics