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.

There are a lot of things that prevent the full development of this network. There are surely a lot of people who are aware of this. There are also advantages and disadvantages to using the said option nowadays. Here are those advantages and disadvantages that the person might want to take in mind beforehand.

On the advantages side, the user can take advantage of its bandwidth capacity. The optical signals will carry considerably high amount of information that is a far cry from the electrical ones. The optical signals can actually carry a hundred times more information that the copper cables. This will be beneficial for Internet usage.

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 can also consider the size and weight of the optical fibers. When it comes to the size, the optical wires have a size of ten to 50 micrometers. This is comparable to a fifth of a human hair's diameter. When it comes to the weight, one kilometer of this wire can be weighed as much as six kilograms.

Of course, using the optical fibers also has its own disadvantages. One of them is the cost of the said product. The exorbitant amount of the said option makes it only available to big companies. They use it as an economic investment because they can use this to serve as a backbone for their processes. If it is used at home, the price will be too expensive.

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.

There is also a need to pay attention to the traffic switching of this product. Truth be told, the switching technology of this product is not up to par compared to the electrical switching solution. It is not as cost-efficient and flexible as what the electrical options can offer. This is the reason why it is troublesome to make use of this when there is a high traffic for the company.

These are just a few of the things that the person has to pay attention to when it comes to using fiber optics. Whether it be for the home or for the business, it is for the best to weigh the pros and cons first before making the final decision. After the person has determined how advantageous this option is, then make the decision.




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