Advantages and disadvantages of fiber optics

With the rapid development of the communication industry, optical fiber plays a very important role in data transmission with its unique advantages of faster speeds, lower attenuation, immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI), smaller size， and higher carrying capacity.

What is fiber?

Optical fiber transmits signals in the form of light pulses and uses glass or plexiglass as the network transmission medium. It consists of a fiber core, cladding, and protective sheath. Optical fiber can be divided into Single Mode Fiber Optic Cable and Multiple Mode Fiber Optic Cable

Advantages of Fiber Optics,

Connection quality: higher bandwidth than copper cable, less power loss and allow longer distance data transmission, fiber optic cable is resistant to electromagnetic interference

Safety: Unlike electrical signals transmitted over copper wires, optical signals from one fiber will not interfere with the optical signals of other fibers in the same cable. This means clearer phone conversations or TV reception. Security is a major concern for businesses today. Fiber optics do not radiate signals, so there is no way to listen to the transmission going through.

Cost-effective: With the cost of copper increasing internationally, several miles of fiber optic cable can be cheaper than copper wire of the same length. With the popularity of fiber optics, over time, we may see costs come down.

Easier installation – fiber is thinner and can be drawn to a smaller diameter than copper wire. Compared to similar copper cables, they are smaller in size and lighter in weight, making them more suitable where space is needed.

Disadvantages of Fiber Optics

Fragile: Fiber optics are quite fragile and more susceptible to damage than using copper wire. It is best not to twist or bend the cable. Fiber optic cables are compact and easily damaged during installation.

Low Power: Light-emitting sources are limited to lower power. While higher power transmitters can be used to improve power delivery, this adds additional cost.

Short distance: The distance between the transmitter and receiver should be kept short, otherwise a reporter is required to boost the signal.