Do you decide to choose fiber optic cable or copper cable to install your computer network? This decision is similar to choosing between a horse and carriage or a plane to travel across the country.
Fiber optics has revolutionized communications over the past two decades. To prove this issue, in this article we explain the reasons for choosing optical fiber.
Why fiber optic?
Since the invention of the electromagnet and the telegraph in 1820, copper has been used for electrical wiring. Among the benefits and advantages of copper, the following can be mentioned: high conductivity (higher than all non-precious metals), high tensile strength (which helps to resist stretching, scratching and cutting) and high malleability (copper It has the ability to bend and be flexible.) All these features are great for electrical applications, but when it comes to networking and telecommunications, copper wires are not the only thing, and this is how fiber optics comes into play. In optical fiber, instead of twisted metals, glass or plastic strands that are only slightly thicker than human hair are used to transmit light. In the early 1880s, Alexander Graham Bell (inventor of the telephone) used optical fiber to transmit voice signals on an "optical beam", although this was before fiber was commercialized for data transmission. In fact, Bell certainly had no knowledge in the field of computer networks. Optical fiber cable is one of the fastest transmission media for new cabling and upgrading old cabling.
Here are 8 advantages to choosing fiber over copper:
More bandwidth
Fiber provides much more bandwidth than copper and standardizes up to 10 Gbps. While today it is not just a standard and this speed can become a reality in proposals and approvals in the future. Keep in mind that fiber speed depends on the type of cable used. Single-mode cable is offered at much longer distances than either 62.5 or 50 micron multi-mode cable. In addition, fiber optic cable can carry more information with better quality than copper wire. For this reason, telephone and cable television (CATV) companies are converting their infrastructure to fiber.
Low attenuation and longer distance
Because the fiber optic signal is light, less signal loss occurs during transmission and data can travel at higher speeds and longer distances. Fiber does not have the 100-meter (9328-ft) distance limitation of UTP twisted pair (without amplifier). Fiber distances can range from 300 meters (984.2 ft) to 40 kilometers (24.8 mi), depending on cable type, wavelength, and network. Fiber optic cable performs better due to less need to amplify fiber signals than copper.
Security in fiber optics
The information sent by optical fiber cable is safe and does not scatter, and it is difficult to listen to them. When listening to the cable, it is very easy to monitor and monitor it because of the light leakage from the cable. That way, if an attempt is made to break the physical security of your fiber, you'll know. Fiber optic networks enable you to place all electrical appliances and hardware in one central location instead of walls and equipment throughout the building.
Fiber optic safety and reliability
Fiber data transmission is very reliable and immune to many environmental factors that affect copper cables. The material of the core is made of glass, which is insulated and no electric current can flow in it. It is also away from electrical interference, radio frequency interference (EM/RFI), co-hearing, impedance problems, etc. For this reason, optical fiber cable can be used without worry next to industrial equipment. It is worth noting that optical fiber is less sensitive than copper to temperature fluctuations, and in addition, it can be placed in direct contact with soil and even under water.
Designing
Fiber is lighter, thinner and more durable than copper cable. Also, its tensile strength is about 10 times that of copper cable. Its small size is easy to manage and takes much less space in cable ducts. Fiber optic terminating has been so difficult that advances in connectors have created easier terminals. In addition, fiber optic testing is much easier than copper cable.
Migration
Increasing production and reducing the cost of media converters has led to an easy migration from copper cable to optical fiber. Converters integrate connections and make it possible to use existing hardware. Fiber can be placed in the network with planning upgrades.
standards
The TIA/EIA-785 standard was approved in 2001 and provides a cost-effective way to migrate from 10-Mbps Ethernet to 100-Mbps Fast Ethernet over fiber (100BASE-SX). and the receiver is deleted. In addition, in June 2002, the IEEE approved the 10-Gigabit Ethernet (10-GbE) standard.
Cost
The cost of fiber optic cable, components and hardware is steadily decreasing. The cost of installing fiber is higher than that of copper due to the need for skill to terminate it. In general, fiber is more expensive than copper in short-term calculations, but it is much cheaper in the long-term. Optical fiber protection is less expensive and has less failure, and optical fiber requires less network hardware. Due to its high capacity, fiber does not require re-cabling for further network performance.
