In the technological engineering and setup world, there has been a lot of buzz in recent months about
fiber optic cable. But what is all the fuss about fiber vs copper cable when copper seems to have been the go-to standard for cabling for so many years? It all boils down to the fact that fiber optic cabling is quickly rising in popularity because of the insane amount of benefits that come along with using this material in new cabling installations and upgrades, from projects as large as horizontal wiring to those as small as desktop applications.
Fiber vs Copper Cable Comparison
Fiber optic cable supports a larger bandwidth
Perhaps the greatest advantage of fiber optic cabling is that it supports a larger bandwidth than copper. This modern cabling supports well beyond the industry standard of 10 Gbps. This makes it possible for fiber optic cables to carry more information at a faster rate of speed than copper. Of course, the end rate of the data transfer and bandwidth does depend on the type of cable used. For example, single-strand fiber optic cables usually support a greater bandwidth.
Security is enhanced with fiber optic cable
Fiber optic cabling in any setting means a greater security for your entire network. Because of the tendency for light to leak when a fiber optic cable is tapped, any hidden tapping would create a signal loss that would be easy to detect as it would likely compromise the entire network. Furthermore, fiber optic cables do not radiate an exterior signal like many copper cabling systems do, and, therefore, wireless threats become less of a concern.
Signal loss is less of a concern at great distances with fiber optic cables
Copper wiring has a limitation of 328 feet without a booster and unshielded. Fiber optic cable does not have the same limitation because of the fact that the signal consists of light. This means that data can transfer and travel at a much higher rate of speed without compromise. The distance limitation of fiber optic cable relies heavily on other factors, such as the style of cable used and the integrated network interface. The distance support for fiber optic cable can reach as far as 24.8 miles in some cases.
Fiber optic cable is immune to many environmental factors that are a problem with copper
Copper cables are notorious for experiencing interference because they are receptive to electrical currents. On the other hand, fiber optic cable has a glass center, which is not an electrical conductor. Therefore, with the changeover to fiber optic cable, you reap immunity to radio frequency interference, crosstalk, and additional electrometric-related interferences. Plus, fiber optic cables are not affected so much by outlying temperatures and is actually submersible.
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Migration to fiber optic cable from copper is not a difficult feat
Prolific media converters make it possible for existing copper cable systems to be seamlessly migrated to fiber optic without interruption or compromise to any set system. Fiber optic cables can be used with existing hardware without a great deal of adjustments or additional expense.
Long-term maintenance costs are lower with fiber optic cable
Even though fiber cable is more expensive initially to install than copper, the long-term maintenance costs counteract the initial expense. Fiber optic cables will be much more durable over time than copper and will require less of an investment where downtime is concerned. Additionally, the costs of fiber optic cabling has been in a steady decline since production is getting more advanced than what it has been in the years prior. It is fully expected that fiber optic cabling will only become even more affordable over time.
Fiber optic cable is less space consuming
When you make the changeover to fiber optic cable, what may surprise you the most is how much less space the wiring will require. Fiber optic cable is thin, lightweight, and is highly efficient in its design. Where cable wiring bundles may have previously taken up a great deal of space within an office or area, fiber optic cables will require only a fraction of the same space. Even more beneficial, fiber optic cables are easy to maneuver because of the small stature and lightweight design.
