The Pros And Cons Of Fiber Optics

By Amanda Bean


The talk about the use of optical fibers have progressed from being a mere dream into a reality. However, such a reality is still not up to the standard of a useful level. The all-optical network is yet to become a reality. There are only a select few that are using a fiber optics network as their option to connect to the Internet.

Even if the said network is still far from getting developed realistically, people should already be made aware of it. It will be beneficial for them if they have an idea on what the pros and cons are of this option. Here are the pros and cons that the people should know about when it comes to this kind of network.

For the pro side, people should be able to take advantage of the bandwidth capacity of this option. The optical signals can carry more information compared to electrical ones. The theoretical capacity of the optical fibers is considered to be hundred times bigger and faster than the copper cables. If it is turned into reality, the most common benefit that a person can feel is the instant page load.

Another advantage to this option is the signal reliability. People know that electrical signals are prone to electromagnetic interference. This interference will increase the bit error rate of electrical systems. On the other hand, the optical signals are not affected by this interference. Thus, there is a smaller bit error rate.

The person has to think about the size and weight too. The optical fibers usually have a size of at least ten micrometers. This size can be compared to a fifth of the diameter of human hair. The weight of this option, when it has a length of one kilometer, will be approximately six kilograms. It is definitely smaller and lighter than the coaxial cables.

If there are pros, there are surely cons to the said option. Since this is the case, it is better to have a look at the disadvantages of this option too. First of all, there is a problem with how much this product cost. There is a reason why only big enterprises can afford to get optical fibers as backbone for their network. If this is deployed to homes, then the cost will be exorbitant for one subscriber.

The physical constraints of this product will also persuade people to think twice about buying the product. Just bending the optical fibers more than necessary will increase the risk of losing the light reflecting properties in it. The complexity and the fee of the repairs for the said product is too much for one person to handle too.

Traffic switching is also a troublesome issue when it comes to this matter. The switching technology for this option might be advancing fast nowadays but it still cannot match the cost-efficiency and flexibility of the electrical switching solutions.

These are just some of the pros and cons that people will have to take into account when they are trying to install the fiber optics into their house or their business. There should be other pros and cons that people can reap aside from the mentioned ones. Better know more of these pros and cons through proper research so that one can make an informed decision in the end.




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