When assessing which type of network cable you want to install, which type should you go with?
Copper has some advantages, including the fact that it already exists in many places and is less expensive to connect network devices. While fiber optic cables are more expensive, there are several advantages that make it a more enticing cable infrastructure solution than its copper counterpart.
5 reasons IT Pros Choose Fiber Optic Cables
1. Fiber optic transmission is faster.
Fiber optic versus copper wire transmission can be boiled down to the speed of photons versus the speed of electrons. While fiber optic cables don’t travel at the speed of light, they come very close—only about 31 percent slower.
2. Fiber optic transmission results in less attenuation.
When traveling over a long distance, fiber optic cables experience less signal loss than copper cabling. This is called low attenuation. Copper cables can only transmit information up to 9,328 ft due to power loss, whereas fiber cables can travel between 984.2 ft to 24.8 miles.
3. Fiber optic cables are impervious to electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Copper wires, if not properly installed, will produce electromagnetic currents that can interfere with other wires and wreak havoc on a network. Fiber optic cables, unlike copper cables, do not conduct electricity.
4. Light cannot catch on fire.
An added benefit of fiber optic cables is that they are not a fire hazard. This can also be attributed to the same reason that the cables do not produce EMI—there is no electric current traveling through the core.
5. Fiber optic cables do not break as easily.
This means that you will not have to worry about replacing them as frequently as copper wires. Even though the fiber is made of glass, copper wires are more prone to damage than fiber optic cables are.
The Takeaway
So, there you have it - five good reasons why people choose fiber cables over copper cables. One could argue that many of the advantages of using fiber cables can lead to a greater ROI. Keep this in mind when deciding whether to choose copper or fiber cabling.
Want to learn more about the importance of fiber cabling infrastructures? Download the free white paper, Specifying Fiber Infrastructure as a Critical Network Component, here.
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