Fiber optic cabling – 10 Ways Optical Fibre Has Changed the World

The widespread adoption of Fiber optic cabling technology across various industries has revolutionized how we communicate far more than any other technology has been able to do.

Fiber optic cabling transmits data at high speed over long distances in less time, ensuring the safety of signals. This has helped engineers to connect the world over the internet effortlessly by reducing potential security threats. Many industries are using fiber optic network cable, whether it is for high-speed data transmission or use in medical tools.

In this blog, we will delve into optical fiber technology and how it has transformed the world.

Understanding the Optic Fiber Technology

A fiber optic network cable is made from thin strands of glass or plastic. It carries the information in light and transmits it quickly over a long distance. The cable is surrounded by a cladding material, reducing the refractive index. This provides various benefits, such as exemption from electromagnetic interference, lesser signal loss, and increased protection.

How Does an Optical Fiber Cable Work?

While transmitting the data via fiber optic network cable, a lot of things go on. Here is a simple explanation of its working:

Core and Cladding: A fiber optic cabling consists of two parts – core and cladding. The core is made of thin strands of glass or plastic, providing the path for light signals, and cladding surrounds the core. Furthermore, cladding has a lower refractive index compared to the core.

Total Internal Reflection: The TIR phenomenon undergoes when light enters the core of optical fiber at a specific angle. This means the light will not escape from the cladding and will be reflected to the core, as the core has a higher refractive index. 

Continuous Reflection: When light travels through the core of the optical fiber, there is a continuous bounce off the core-cladding interface due to TIR, ensuring the light signal travels along the length of the fiber without losing its quality.

Signal Transmission: Information is encoded into light signals by varying the intensity or frequency. When these signals propagate through the core, these variations carry along with this. 

Receiving End: Photosensitive detectors are incorporated at the other end of the light signal, which receives the light signal and converts it into the electrical signal, which is extracted into the original information.

What Makes Optical Fiber Cable Unique?

• Optical fiber can travel the data at a very high speed, as light signals travel at the speed of light.
• It offers minimal signal losses over a very long distance, like hundreds of kilometers.
• It isn’t susceptible to electromagnetic interference.
• It is difficult to tap, enhancing the security. 

How Has Optical Fiber Changed the World?

High-Speed Internet Access

Fiber optic cabling has played a crucial role in high-speed internet. This doesn’t come with limited bandwidth, enabling the transmission of vast amounts of data at an incredible speed. This technology has paved the way to stream high-definition video download files 100 times faster. This has helped people to connect with people from other parts of the world seamlessly. Additionally, it has played a crucial role in the success of Industry 4.0.

Improved Communication

With technological advancement, people start to connect across the globe for business or other purposes. Fiber optic cable has played a crucial role and has become the backbone of modern telecommunication networks. This allows data to propagate over a long distance without degradation, enabling video conferencing, cloud-based communication and many more.

Aids in Medical Advancements

This is not all about data and helped to advance the medical equipment. Endoscopes use fiber optic cables with a small camera at the end. Moreover, 99.7% of the signal reaches the cable in most cases, making it not susceptible to interference. It helps surgeons to see the internal organs of the body, aiding in a million successful surgeries every year.

Enhanced Safety

Optical fiber technology has enabled the most secure security system and faster and more reliable data transmission. Since it carries light pulses, it is not susceptible to electromagnetic interference, which means data will transfer without carrying any external noise. This made it ideal for public and private spaces, such as banking and government communications.

More Energy Efficient

It can transmit up to 10Gbps and beyond data, which was difficult with the traditional copper wiring. So, less fiber optic cable requires transmitting the same amount of data, leading to less energy consumption.

Global Financial Transactions

In the finance world, more than 90% of transactions are processed electronically. So, it requires high-speed data transmission and quick outcomes. Fiber optic cable helped connect financial centers across the globe, ensuring high-frequency trading and fund transfer.

Education and E-Learning

After Covid 19 pandemic, the education sector shifted towards online learning mode. 65% – 70% higher education schools have also started to provide e-learning mode and made this part of their future plan. In addition, thousands of websites, in India, sell online courses. So, optical fiber has played a crucial role in connecting the educator and student, with higher speed, like 10 Gbps.

Concluding Remarks!

Fiber optic network cable has revolutionized the way with a faster internet connection, better communication, and advancement in various fields. With time, technology is continuously evolving, and fiber optic cable complements the evolution.

RIAM Enterprises is a certified company which helps you with fiber optic cabling design and installation. We help mid, small, and large companies with our holistic solution. Contact us to install fiber optic cable.