Why Professionals Choose Fiber Optic Cables – Part 1
If your company needs a network requiring high speeds over long distances with heavy bandwidth connections, fiber optic cables are the right choice over copper cabling.
The lower cost of copper cabling makes it more suitable for smaller applications, such as appliances and PCs. Lower priority traffic, small networks, and wiring closets make good applications for copper cabling. Thus, it may be the case that existing copper installations do not need to be replaced by fiber.
The following will discuss some reasons why professionals choose fiber optic cabling over copper cabling.
Faster Data Transmission
Composed of tiny strands of glass about the diameter of a human hair, fiber optic cables utilize light pulses and can carry up to 60 terabits per second, which is near the speed of light. In contrast, copper cables are limited by how fast electrons can travel, attaining around 10 gigabits per second.
Longer Distances
Although they both undergo attenuation (the weakening of a signal over distance), fiber optic cables are capable of transmitting data over vastly longer distances than copper.
Copper cabling is limited to reliably handling transmissions over 100 meters or 330 feet. On the other hand, fiber optic cables can carry transmissions over more than 24 miles.
This makes fiber optic cables more suitable than copper for interconnecting equipment between the floors of a building and between buildings.
Greater Reliability
Conductors of electricity, copper cables are vulnerable to electrical surges and interference from nearby wiring known as electromagnetic interference (EMI). EMI leads to crosstalk, which impacts the quality, reliability, and security of transmissions. As fiber optic cables use light transmission to carry data, they do not generate EMI. Fiber transmissions are also much less vulnerable to temperature extremes, moisture, and severe weather, which can all affect copper cabling.
Part 2 will cover Easier Management, Improved Durability, Higher Security, and Future Proofing.
Progressive Office Cabling
Founded in 1986, Progressive Office’s success has been a direct result of years of commitment to seeking cost-effective solutions. Working together, Progressive teams are committed to getting your data cabling, access control, and telecom systems installed and operating while minimizing disruption and downtime. Call our toll-free number (800) 614-4560 today.
