Advantages of Fiber Optics
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High Bandwidth
The optical fiber can support bandwidths of in the terahertz—trillions of hertz. The actual bandwidth of a fiber depends on the specific structure of the fiber and on the light transmitted through it.
With optical multiplexing techniques and high-bandwidth singlemode fibers, the practical bandwidth of fibers is endless, certainly well beyond the present ability of current electronics to exploit it. The high bandwidth not only makes fiber the preferred replacement for coaxial cable in long-haul transmission, it makes it a practical alternative to microwave and satellite communications.
Low Attenuation
Fibers provide lower attenuation than do copper cables, especially at high frequencies. Unlike copper cables, attenuation is independent of the modulation speed in fibers. Increased signal speed does not mean increased attenuation. Attenuation ranges from 0.2 dB to 5 dB per kilometer for glass.
The practical benefit of low attenuation is to permit long transmission distances without repeaters to amplify and reshape the signal. General transmission distances are 2 to 4 km for LED-based systems and 25 to 80 km for laser-based systems, although distances can be extended to hundreds of kilometers with optical amplifiers.
EMI Immunity
Because it is a dielectric, the optical fiber is not affected by ordinary electromagnetic fields; there is no inductive or capacitive coupling and no crosstalk. Consequently, optical fibers can be used in electrically noisy environments, run in the same conduit as power cables, and applied without concern over ground loops. EMI immunity increases reliability by providing excellent bit-error rates without costly error-checking routines.
Small Size
Fiber-optic cable is smaller than copper cable, allowing greater space efficiency in application. In a network or premises cabling application, relative to Category 5 twisted-pair cable, an optical fiber takes up about 15% less space—and offers higher bandwidth. In addition, the high bandwidth of each fiber means you may need fewer cables or conductor to carry very high data rates.
Light Weight
Fiber-optic cable weighs less than comparable copper cable. A two-fiber cable, for example, is 20% to 50% lighter than a comparable four-pair Category 5 cable. Lighter weight makes fiber easier to install.
Safety
The dielectric properties of fiber isolate it electrically. Fiber presents no spark hazard and can be used in inflammable environments and other hazardous applications where electrical codes and common sense prohibit the use of copper cables. Nor does fiber attract or conduct lightning.
Security
Optical fibers are quite difficult to tap. Since they do not radiate electromagnetic energy, emissions cannot be intercepted. And physically tapping the fiber takes great skill to do undetected. Thus the fiber is the most secure medium available for carrying sensitive data.
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