It has been said that sometime during the 21st Century, 98% of all copper wire will be replaced with fibre optic cable. This Fibre Optics technology has a wide range of benefits that could serve every person on the planet. Providing an enormous communication capacity, a single fibre is able to carry a conversation between every human being on earth at the same time. With this incredible scope it is no wonder that companies all over the world are using fibre optic networks.
How Fibre Optic technology works
Fibre optics is a technology that uses glass or plastic to transmit data. Inside this cable, a group of glass threads transmit messages. These messages are in the form of light waves. This light travels down the fibre optic cable and bounces off the walls of the glass or plastic as it moves downwards. It would be expected that light would leak out the edges of a clear glass pipe. However a phenomenon referred to as total internal reflection states that if light bounces off glass at a shallow angle (42 degrees or less) then it reflects back in again. The glass therefore acts as a mirror.
For more information on Fibre Optics, call Westech on 011 519 4900 or visit www.westech.co.za
The benefits
There are many reasons why companies in South Africa and all over the world are turning to fibre optic technology. Of course the obvious reason would be the speed at which information is carried through the cable. Fibre Optics allows for speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second. When you compare this to the 1.54 megabits per second that copper allows, there really is no comparison. Fibre optic systems are able to transfer the same amount of information than what is found in an entire set of encyclopedias or 3 TV episodes, in one second.
Another reason why fibre optic networks are becoming so popular in businesses all over the world is bandwidth. 33 tons of copper wire is needed to carry the same amount of information than what ¼ pound of optical fibre can handle.
Fibre optics has a much greater resistance to electromagnetic noises. Radios, motors and other cables do not interfere with the transmission of data. This is because fibre optic cable carries light beams so they are free of electrical noise.
The easy installation and upgrading of a fibre optic network means that it is cheaper than copper and coaxial cables. Another advantage of using fibre optics is that phone lines cannot be tapped or bugged. This security makes fibre optics a popular choice for banks, government bodies, medical companies and other companies that are at risk and have security concerns.
With electronics advancing at such a rapid speed, fibre optics technology is becoming an increasingly vital part of companies. The affordability aspect means that more companies benefit from convenient 21st Century technology. With the many advantages that fibre optics offers, it’s not difficult to believe that companies are choosing this faster, easier and safer route.
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Tags: communication capacity, Fibre Optic technology, fibre optics, gigabits per second, networking, westech
