Today, businesses are grown through the support of people and technology. And if your people are your biggest asset, your IT infrastructure might be next on that list. So ask yourself, does the quality of your hardware, software, and network reflect the quality of your people? One often overlooked aspect of IT infrastructure is network cables.
This article explores the benefits of fiber optic cable and how it compares to alternatives like copper or coaxial. If you’re ready to upgrade your network cabling, read more about our network cabling services.
What is Fiber Optic Cable Used For?
Investing in fiber optic cable as part of your IT infrastructure strategy enables you to operate more efficiently and stay competitive in your industry. It helps you increase speed and bandwidth, improve reliability, beef up security, save money, and scale IT infrastructure.
Fiber optics are fantastic for transmitting data over long distances with minimal signal loss. This makes them ideal for connecting geographically dispersed offices and ensuring consistent, high-quality communication. Additionally, fiber optics maintain their performance in environments with high electromagnetic interference, providing stable and reliable connectivity even in challenging conditions.
Business Benefits of Fiber Optic Cable
Let’s break down each of these benefits.
- High Speed: Fiber optic cables offer significantly higher data transfer speeds, enabling faster internet and network performance, which boosts productivity and supports high-bandwidth applications.
- Long-Distance Transmission: They can transmit data over much longer distances without signal degradation, making them ideal for businesses with multiple locations or remote work requirements.
- Enhanced Reliability: Fiber optics are immune to electromagnetic interference and environmental factors, providing a more stable and reliable connection compared to copper cables.
- Future-Proofing: With higher capacity and scalability, fiber optic cables can accommodate future technological advancements and growing data demands, ensuring long-term viability.
- Improved Security: The nature of fiber optic transmission makes it difficult to tap into without detection, offering better data security and protection against eavesdropping.
Alternatives to Fiber Optic Cable
If you’re a savvy business owner, you probably want to do your homework on alternatives to fiber optic cables. Let’s take a look at how fiber optic compare to others, like coaxial and copper.
Coaxial Cable vs Fiber Optic
Coaxial cables consist of a copper conductor surrounded by insulation and a metallic shield, making them suitable for shorter distances and lower bandwidth applications like cable TV and traditional broadband.
In contrast, fiber optic cables use glass or plastic fibers to transmit data as light signals, providing much higher bandwidth, faster speeds, and longer transmission distances without signal degradation. The image below from Ready To Go Cables illustrates the difference between coaxial cable vs fiber optic.
Copper cable vs fiber optic
Fiber optic cables and copper cables differ in their materials and data transmission methods. Fiber optic cables use strands of glass or plastic fibers to transmit data as light signals, offering extremely high bandwidth, faster speeds, and the ability to transmit data over long distances with minimal signal loss and no susceptibility to electromagnetic interference (EMI).
In contrast, copper cables, including twisted pair types like Cat5e and Cat6, use electrical signals transmitted through copper wires. While copper cables are cost-effective and suitable for shorter distances with decent speed, they are more susceptible to signal degradation and EMI over longer distances.
Fiber optics are ideal for high-speed, high-volume data applications, whereas copper cables are commonly used for shorter-range, cost-sensitive network connections. The image below from Cable Matters illustrates the difference between copper cable vs fiber optic.
Potential Threats to Fiber Optic Cables
Fiber optic may be a superior option, but even the finest cables can be compromised during installation or due to environmental factors. Here are some common reasons fiber optic cables can be compromised:
- Physical damage: Bending, crushing, or cutting the cable can cause signal loss or failure.
- Water ingress: Moisture can penetrate and damage the fibers, particularly in poorly sealed outdoor installations.
- Temperature extremes: Excessive heat or cold can cause the cable materials to expand or contract, leading to signal degradation.
- Chemical exposure: Corrosive substances can damage the cable’s protective outer sheath and inner components.
- Rodent infestation: Rodents can chew through fiber optic cables, disrupting the transmission of data.
How To Test Fiber Optic Cable
Your IT infrastructure is a complex system of software, hardware, and network components. With so many different aspects that could be compromised, businesses would be wise to regularly check-in on its health. In particular, testing fiber optic cable can assure your network operates at peak efficiency and can proactively identify potential bottlenecks before they happen.
Fiber Optic Performance Indicators
Testing fiber optic cable can be overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Here are some common indicators to measure the performance of your fiber optic network:
- Attenuation: Measures signal strength loss over distance.
- Length: Ensures cables meet your network’s specific length requirements.
- Continuity: Verifies a complete, unbroken connection.
- Reflectance: Detects excessive signal bounce-back that can disrupt data flow.
Fiber Optics Testing Tools
Diagnosing the health of your fiber optic network requires specialized tools and technical expertise. For example, the photo below shows a tool for testing fiber optic cable by Fluke, a leading provider of IT testing and measurement tools.
Work With Fiber Optic Cable Installation Experts
Don’t let outdated cabling hinder your network’s performance. Contact XS Telecom today. We specialize in top-quality installations of certified voice and data cabling, including Category 5e, Category 6, fiber-optic, buried, aerial, and wireless networks. Our expertise ensures reliable and high-performance network infrastructures tailored to meet current and future communication needs.