subject: Advantages And Disadvantages Of Fiber Optic Cabling [print this page] Advantages And Disadvantages Of Fiber Optic Cabling
Once upon a time, the whole world relied on copper wires and cables for its telecommunication systems. Through copper wires and cables, telecommunication service providers enabled people to reach out to their neighbors. However, as technology became more advanced, people were given the means to communicate faster in a way that transcended geographical boundaries. Whereas copper wires and cables allowed people to talk to just their neighbors, the advancement in technology has enabled providers to use fiber optics to help bring people closer together. Now, it is possible for people to connect with others even from across continents.The concept of fiber optics is not new to the world. In fact, fiber optic cabling has been available for several decades but it was reserved mainly for long-distance communication and applications mainly because of its cost. Research and development over the years has made it easier for companies to produce fiber optics in a cost-effective manner. This, in turn, made fiber optic cabling relatively more affordable. The capacity of the optical fiber has also been expanded and made more advanced using the same research and development. Whereas it had once the capacity of only one wavelength of light to travel through it, it is now possible for at least 160 wavelengths to travel through it all at once.Fiber optic cabling has now become the backbone of all major telecommunication systems throughout the developed countries. There are just so many advantages to using fiber optic cables that it won't be long before the copper wires and cables will be rendered obsolete. One of the major advantages of using fiber optics in cables is that it provides extra security. The dielectric nature of optical fiber makes it difficult, if not impossible, to detect the signal being transmitted within the cable. To be able to detect the signal, you would actually have to access the optical fiber itself. This characteristic alone makes it ideal for use in banks and government bodies where security is always an issue. The other advantage of using fiber optics is the speed in which it allows data to be transmitted. For this reason, it becomes a vital tool among healthcare providers. Through fiber optic cabling, remote hospitals can easily connect to major city healthcare facilities to aid in the diagnosis of patients which can help save lives. Aside from telecommunication, fiber optic technology is also being used for photonic power applications. The advances in fiber optic technology has also enabled optical fibers to carry power using only light which can be used to monitoring systems in power plants.
