With the world relying heavily on global network connections, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and IT organizations are constantly looking for a better and faster way to relay data. Copper cables have long been the first (and only!) choice for connecting a home to an ISP. But with the introduction of fiber optic cables, ISPs have started to adapt to better and faster fiber optic systems.

Since copper cables are already installed in large data infrastructures, switching to fiber is expensive and time-consuming for ISPs. So why do it? Well, there are several reasons.

1. Faster data transfer speed

One of the biggest reasons why fiber optics are the first choice for data transmission is that their greater bandwidth provides faster speeds, with single-mode fiber optic cables capable of delivering 100-940 Mbps (11.9-112 MB/s). In theory, single-mode fiber can even reach speeds of 1,000GB/s!

These ultrafast speeds are possible thanks to the materials used in fiber optic cables. Unlike copper cables, which transmit data via pulses of electricity, fiber optic cables are made of glass fibers that transmit data via pulses of light. Copper cables can only transmit data at the speed of electricity, while optical cables can transmit data at 70% of the speed of light!

Transferring data at 70% the speed of light also means lower "ping" or latency, further improving certain applications such as video calling, online classes, streaming and online gaming.

2. Fiber optics cover longer distances

While copper cables are still used in many homes for local area networks, their use in larger facilities may not be ideal. In some cases, you must route data over longer distances due to server-to-host congestion and sheer physical space.

Copper cables (known as Ethernet cables in your home or office) are limited to 100m by LAN standards to ensure quality and signal strength throughout the network. In contrast, multimode fiber optic cables can be up to 1.2 miles in length without signal attenuation or weakening.

Fiber-optic data transmission can travel even further, depending on changes in the cable and the electronic hardware used to pulse light through the cable.

3. More friendly to the environment

Fiber optics bring many benefits to the environment. One of the most important benefits is that it reduces copper usage. While copper itself is not harmful to the environment, the mining and purification process used to make highly conductive copper cables can damage the environment. In contrast, silica, which is used to make fiber optic cables, is one of the easiest materials to mine or collect.

4. Fiber optic cables are more durable

Glass fibers used in fiber optic cables are known to withstand large amounts of moisture and extreme temperatures before failing. As a result, networks using fiber optic cables are expected to reduce data cable failures by 50%.

The durability of fiber optic cables also means fewer repairs and replacements. By using fiber optic cables, organizations will reduce downtime, saving them the hassle of troubleshooting and repair costs. It also means less waste, further contributing to a more sustainable environment.

5. Reduce energy consumption

Fiber optics provide a more efficient means of transmitting data than copper cables.

Even with 10GBase-T technology reducing copper power consumption to 3.5 watts per 100 meters, fiber still uses less energy. For example, it is estimated that OM4 fiber optic cable (one of the most common types of fiber optic cable) can transmit data over 400 meters using only 1 watt of power!

6. Fiber optics offer better security

Security is another big reason for ISPs and larger LANs to move to fiber optics. Monitoring data transmission signals on copper cables is relatively easy. Once the hackers have spliced ​​the physical connection to the target's cable, they can monitor the data transmission signal through various recording hardware, such as an oscilloscope. The data can then be decrypted and reveal various sensitive information. Hackers can even inject data and control client and host interactions.

Fiber optic cables are much harder to physically steal data from. Pulses of light are more difficult to detect and monitor. You need a highly sensitive machine with low tolerance levels to record low power transmissions, sending data almost as fast as the speed of light.

Copper cables are also easier to detect. Once broken, the copper wires can be spliced ​​together and continue to transmit data as if nothing happened. People using the network may ignore brief moments of loss of connection and assume the system is down. In contrast, repairing fiber optic cables requires fusion and mechanical splicing, which is more challenging than conventional copper splicing and requires expensive equipment.

7. Fiber optic cables are immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI)

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) is a problem in complex networks as well as some home networks. Electromagnetic interference can slow down data transfers and even corrupt packets. Electromagnetic interference on copper cables occurs when a sufficiently strong magnetic field penetrates the cable insulation and causes noise or interference.

Electromagnetic interference can arise naturally from lightning, solar radiation, blizzards, and auroras. However, EMI can also originate from man-made devices and appliances such as toasters, ovens, televisions and mobile devices.

Copper cables are susceptible to electromagnetic interference, while fiber optic cables are completely immune to such interference. Glass is impervious to magnetism, making fiber optic cables immune to electromagnetic interference.

The Future of Fiber Optic Technology

With all the advantages of fiber optics, we can expect even more improvements over time.

It looks like we won't have to wait much longer for the next wave of improvements to hit the market. New optocouplers and switches have been developed to transmit data over fiber optic cables without any electrical processing. WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) was also introduced, promising faster internet by allowing ISPs to transmit greater bandwidth at a given time.

Therefore, it is safe to say that fiber optic technology is the future of transmitting data. However, that doesn't mean copper cables are obsolete, as their low cost, PoE and KVM applications are still areas where copper cables excel. So you shouldn't shy away from using copper in your network, but it's a good idea to mix in some fiber if you can.