Fiber optics is an old technology that uses the simple principle of guiding of light by refraction. The optical fibre is made of glass or plastic fibres and are used for telecommunication and networking. These fibre cables are flexible and are useful for long distance communications, as light travels at a greater speed and these cables are capable of transmitting messages carried by light waves faster than the metal cables.

 

Fibre optic cable is capable of delivering greater bandwidth than metal cables and hence they carry more data and are less susceptible to interference. They are thinner and lighter than metal wires and the data is transmitted digitally. Each fibre is capable of carrying many independent channels, each having a different wavelength of light enabling use for short distance network as within offices buildings. 

 

Fibre is also unaffected by electrical interference therefore there is no cross talk between signals and no environmental noise. Fibre cables that are not armored will not conduct electricity and this makes them a good choice for protecting the equipment of communication located in areas which are prone to high voltage environments such as near power generators and structures that are prone to lightning. There is no danger of ignition when using these cables in areas that have explosive fumes present.

 

Fibre optics is extremely useful for local-area networks or LANs which is a computer network which is confined to a relatively small area such as a single building or a group of buildings. LANs connect to each other through telephone lines and radio waves enabling interactive services such as video conferencing. The fibre optic cable has a central glass or plastic core surrounded by many layers of plastic coating and Kevlar fibres to keep the cables strong and safe from damage and an outer casing made of PVC or Teflon.

 

See also:

Introduction to Network Cabling: Cables for Computer Networking

Ethernet Cable Specifications for Maximizing Speed and Efficiency

Networking through Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cables

Coaxial Cables - Brief Characteristics and Features of Coaxial Cables for Networking

Shielded Twisted Pair Cables - Different Types of Cabling Used for Increased Bandwidth

Wireless LANs- Their Advantages and Disadvantages as Compared to Wired Networks