Advantages and Disadvantages of Fibre Optic Cable

The usage of optical fiber cables has significantly advanced in data transfer and telecommunications. These cables employ the speed of light to carry data very quickly and reliably over long distances. They can be made from microscopic glass or plastic fiber. The foundation of optical fiber cables has completely changed the way we exchange, connect, and modify data in digital technology.

What is Fiber Optic Cable?

• A Fiber Optic Cable is used to transmit data through fibers (threads) or plastic (glass). This pack of glass which is within sorts of threads transmits modulated messages along sunshine waves. There are many advantages of using these cables over other kinds of communication cables, like the bandwidth of these cables is high, and they are less vulnerable than metal cables. The biggest disadvantage of these cables is their installation.
• A fiber optic cable is formed by drawing glass or a special sort of plastic, which can transmit light from one end of the fiber to a special end. glass fiber cables use light signals to transmit data signals instead of traditional electrical signals. Twisted pair cables use current to transfer data signals. Generally, there are three sorts of fiber optic cables: 2 glass fiber —single mode fiber optic cable, and multimode optical fiber, also as plastic glass fiber (POF).
• The “mode” in fiber optic cable refers to the trail during which light travels. Single-mode fiber features a smaller core diameter of 9 microns (8.3 microns to be exact) and only allows one wavelength and pathway for light to travel, which greatly decreases light reflections and lowers attenuation.
• Multimode optical fiber features a bigger core diameter than that of single-mode fiber optic cable, which allows multiple pathways and a variety of other wavelengths of sunshine to be transmitted. Multimode optical fiber is out there in two sizes, 50 microns and 62.5 microns. it’s commonly used for brief distances, including patch cable applications like fiber to desktop or patch panel to equipment, data and audio/video applications in LANs. consistent with fiber index of refraction distribution, multimode fiber are often divided into two types: Step-Index Multimode Fiber vs Graded-Index Multimode Fiber.
• POF may be a large core step-index glass fiber with a typical diameter of 1 mm. Massive size enables it to easily couple many light from sources and connectors that do not need to be high precision. So typical connector costs are 10-20% the utmost amount as for glass fibers and termination is simple. Being plastic, it’s more durable and should be installed in minutes with minimal tools and training. For applications don’t require high bandwidth over great distances, POF is more competitive, making it a viable option for desktop LAN connections and low speed short links.

Uses of Fiber Optic Cable

• Telecommunications: Optical fiber are widely used in telecommunications. They allow the transfer of data from one place to another, even when the distance is far, with minimal signal loss.
• Cable Television (CATV): They are also used in cable television (CATV), optical fibers are used to deliver high-definition video and audio signals from the system operator’s directly to subscribers.
• Data Centers: Optical fibers play a important role in connecting servers and networking device inside information centers.
• Networking: Fiber optic cables are used in Local Area Networks (LANs), Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs), and Wide Area Networks (WANs) to interconnect computers, switches, routers, and other community systems.
• Medical Imaging: Optical fibers are used in medical along side endoscopes and scientific lasers for diagnostic imaging and surgical approaches.

Advantages of Fibre Optic Cable

• Bandwidth is above copper cables
• Less power loss and allows data transmission for extended distances
• Optical cable is resistance for electromagnetic interference
• Fiber cable is sized as 4.5 times which is best than copper wires
• As cable are lighter, thinner, in order that they use less area as compared to copper wires
• Installation is extremely easy thanks to less weight.
• Optical fiber cable is extremely hard to tap because they don’t produce electromagnetic energy. These optical fiber cables are very secure for transmitting data.
• This cable opposes most acidic elements that hit copper wired also are flexible in nature.
• Optical fiber cable are often made cheaper than equivalent lengths of copper wire.
• Light has fastest speed within universe, such a lot faster signals
• Fiber optic cables allow much more cable than copper twisted pair cables.
• Fiber optic cables have how more bandwidth than copper twisted pair cables.

Disadvantages of Fiber Optic Cable

• Compared to copper, the cost of producing optic fibre cable is higher. Due to the need for specialised test equipment, installation is more expensive.
• Fibre optic cables are more brittle than electrical wires like copper cabling since they are composed of glass. They will break if you bend them too much.
• In order to prevent network disruptions, the fibres must be appropriately sliced whether establishing a new fibre optic network or growing an existing one. This is a very sensitive operation, and the signal will suffer if the fibres aren’t joined correctly.
• The fibre optic cable is extremely prone to being cut or damaged during installation or other construction/renovation activity because of how small and compact it is.

For more detail check the article Optical Fiber Cable

Frequently Asked Question on Fiber Optic Cable – FAQs

What is the principle of Fiber Optical Cable?

The principle behind Fiber Optical Cable is Total Internal Reflection

Are Fiber Optic Cables secure?

Yes Fiber Optical Cables are secure.

What is the future scope of Fiber Optic Cable technology?

The future of Fiber Optic Cable technology is telecommunication technology. It provides the highest speeds, extensive bandwidth, and long-distance data transfer. Future developments using fibre optic technology promise to be more sophisticated.

How does Fiber Optic Cable work?

A communications optical fibre cable is essentially made up of glass strands that resemble threads and have a diameter comparable to human hair. These strands may each carry messages modulated onto light waves at the speed of light.