Advantages & Disadvantages of Fiber Optic Cables

Fiber optic cabling for high speed Internet, telephone and cable connections is a technology with many advantages and only a few disadvantages. Fiber optic cables transfer data via light waves. They are made from glass or plastic fibers in the core of the cable, surrounded by a "cladding" layer (designed to reflect light back towards the core) and a "buffer coating," which protects the fibers from moisture and other damage.

Speed

Fiber optic data transmission is incredibly fast.

RF Interference

Fiber optic cables are not susceptible to RF (radio frequency) interference, which can be a major problem for users of typical coaxial cabling.

Distance

Fiber optic cables can transmit data over exceptionally long distances without much data loss.

Costs

Fiber optic cabling can cost more than double what a typical broadband connection costs.

Availablity

Fiber optic connections are not available in many areas. Currently, this is one of their biggest disadvantages.

Fun Fact

Many gaming systems and home theater components now also transfer information back and forth via fiber optic cables.

Resources

• How Fiber Optics Work
• Fiber Optics Marketplace