Benefits of using Fibre Optic cabling rather than copper?

May 28th, 2010 by sbsystems


With the progress of Fibre Optic Cabling, it is becoming a more popular choice between electricians and tradesman alike. So just why is it that fibre optic cabling is greater than the alternative choice copper cabling?

Well you have to look into the following points to look at developments in the cabling field; natural development, speed, electromagnetic immunity, security, safety and dimension / weight.

To start, it is probable that with most progressions in technology that you will see a greater product, and fibre optic cabling is no exception. Copper wire has been in the trade for more than 100 years; therefore, it is very outdated, and fibre optic cabling is a expansion just like the development of black and white television to colour television.

Fibre Optic Cabling is much quicker than copper cabling; this is because a single cable contains thousands of fibres in a single line. This means it is ideal for high-speed Internet and highly used business telephone systems.

Fibre Optic Cabling doesnot get any hindrance from Electromagnetic signals; in Copper Wiring this may cause distortion be it on phonelines, interferenceto television signals or even down time to your Internet service. Fibre Optic cabling will not get intrusion from Electromagnetic signals.

Regrettably with copper wires there are a few security issues. Copper cables can reveal information due to the magnetic field seeping out, and can be seeked out with elite antennas. Even though there has been development to stop this with copper taping, it makes the copper wiring less effective and more dear. Once more fibre optic cabling will under no circumstances cause this problem.

As copper wires run electrical energy from one point to the other, they can be tremendously dangerous. Electrical currents can cause sparks, which could source electric shocks or even fires. Also, they can conduct lightning which obviousally is extremely unsafe. As fibre optic cabling transmits light and not electric it will not start problems with lightning, sparks or even electrical shocks.

The weight and size of the cable may not pay much of a baring to the shopper but for the worker it makes a lot of difference, copper cabling is two times the weight of fibre optic cabling.

As you can see with the above, there are a lot of reasons why fibre optic cabling is a greater choice than copper cabling.