In some cases, fiber optics can replace copper cables, but not in others. Here are some pros and cons comparing fiber optic and copper cables:

advantage:

1. High-speed transmission: Compared with copper cables, optical fiber can provide higher transmission speed and bandwidth. Fiber can transmit greater amounts of data and support higher network speeds and more users.
2. Long distance: Optical fiber has less signal attenuation, so it can transmit longer distances. This means fiber can cover larger areas, while also enabling greater distances between data centers and servers.
3. Anti-interference: Optical fiber signals are not affected by electromagnetic interference, which means that in high-noise environments, optical fiber will be more stable than copper cables.

shortcoming:

1. Expensive: Fiber optics are more costly in materials and manufacturing than copper cables, which can make fiber optics more expensive.
2. Complex handling: Installing and connecting fiber optics requires more skill and equipment than copper cabling. This makes maintenance and replacement costs more expensive.
3. Does not support power supply: Fiber cannot provide power, so an additional power supply is required to power the device.

Therefore, although optical fiber has the advantages of high-speed transmission, long-distance transmission, and anti-interference, it may sometimes not be able to completely replace copper cables due to its disadvantages such as high cost and processing complexity. In practical applications, the most suitable transmission medium should be selected according to the specific situation.