Blog Archive

The Benefits And Risks 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 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.



Of course, there are consequences to choosing this option too. The first one has something to do with the product’s cost. The optical networks of big companies use optical fibers as its backbone since it is economical. However, it will be a different matter when this is deployed at home. The cost is too high for a single subscriber.



There are physical constraints that people has to suffer from too. The optical fibers should never be bended too much or else it will lose its light reflecting property. It is also a known fact that this is more easily damaged compared to copper cables. The complexity and cost of the repairs is higher as well.



Traffic switching is still not a good feature for the optical fibers. It is still better to use the electrical switching solution. After all, the cost-efficiency and flexibility of the latter is better than the optical fibers.



The pros and cons are not limited to the aforementioned, though. People should take account all information about using fiber optics. This is so that they can make a more appropriate decision in the end. This way, they can enjoy the benefits and withstand the consequences of using the said network easily.









About the Author:








#end



The Benefits And Risks Of Fiber Optics The Benefits And Risks Of Fiber Optics



Article Source: http://ift.tt/LQV9OG

0 comments: