Why Choose Fibre Optic? Isn’t Copper Good Enough?

Data transmission has historically been accomplished using copper (electrical) cables. Copper or Co-axial cables are reliable and efficient over relatively short distances and if the bandwidth is relatively low but when it comes to long distances and higher bandwidth, Fibre Optic has to be the cable of choice.

So, why Fibre Optic? Well, ther are many advantages when using Fibre Optic instead of copper or Co-axial cables. This short article tries to give a simple explanation of these advantages and the industries that make use of the benefits of using Fibre Optic Cabling.

Data Retention:
Loss of data in Fibre Optic is exceptionally low, which means that over long distances data is hardly lost. This makes transmission of digital video over long distances possible. Digital Signage industry is making great use of this capability, allowing it to send digital video over many kilometers. This makes it possible for companies to be able to control the content at the source, rather than at the receiving end, the benefit being that they are more responsive to customer requests.

Lower Equipment Costs:
As Copper or Co-axial cables are not reliable when transmitting data over long distances, it is necessary to add repeaters at regular intervals to ensure data reaches its intended target. This adds to the cost of equipment required to install a reliable system. Fibre Cables can transmit data over very long distances, eliminating the need for repeaters, reducing not only equipment but also installation costs.

Weight:
Fibre Optic cables are much lighter in weight than copper cables. The benefits are many, including lower transportation cost, less weight in critical applications such as aircraft and ease of installation.

Electrical Immunity:
Fibre sends signals using light, which brings us to the second advantage of Fibre over Copper. Since data transmission does not involve any electrical element, this means that they are immune to electromagnetic interference between transmitting and receiving ends of the communication, especially if there is the possibility of different earth potentials. Power Industries, laboratories and Medical companies take advantage of this feature to transmit data over any distance, short or long.

No Crosstalk:
When copper cables are laid in parallel over long distances, parasitic electrical signals effect the transmission of data. This means that the cables interfere with each other, resulting in either loss of data or incorrect information being transmitted. No such problem exists with Fibre, as all components are passive, rather than active.

Conclusions:
For reasons stated above, Fibre is a more reliable means of communication over long distances. Data transmission comes in variety of forms in this age of high data communication. Digital Video is now prevalent in many industries and unless the medium is Fibre Cable, then it is not possible to transmit digital video over long distances. Reliability and safety are the other reasons to consider Fibre. The technology is completely passive, reducing the possibility of electrical interference, spark and ESD interference. Lower cost of equipment, transportation and installation also make Fibre the cable of choice in today’s communication industry.

By: Chris Cowper

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