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Fiber optics transmit data in the form of light particles -- or photons -- that pulse through a fiber optic cable. The glass fiber core and the cladding each have a different refractive index that bends incoming light at a certain angle.
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Considering the difference in speed between both networks, fiber optic cables provide faster data transmission than wireless networks. While wireless networks can become slower during busy times, fiber optic connections remain strong, even during peak hours.
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There are two types of fibre optic cables – multimode and single-mode. Multimode optical fibre or OFC is capable of carrying multiple light rays (modes) at the same time as it has varying optical properties at the core. Single-mode fibre has a much smaller core size (9 microns).
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Disadvantages of Fibre Optic Cable
The cost to produce optic fibre cabling is higher than that of copper. Installation is also more expensive as special test equipment is usually required. As they are made of glass, fibre optic cables are more fragile than electrical wires like copper cabling.
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Fiber is clearly faster, being able to sustain data speeds more than 100x faster than Ethernet under ideal conditions. That being said, it becomes a question of whether an environment needs data speeds that fast.
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Fiber internet is faster and more reliable than the 5G network, becoming the preferred choice among tech experts. With speeds up to 100 times faster than traditional broadband, a fiber connection can easily handle all of your online needs.
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While convenient to tap into, the worst thing about 5G is that it travels through the air. This means compared to fibre, it will have higher latency than fibre (the time it takes for data to transmit across the network).
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If you see the 300, 500 or gigabit speed tiers offered at your address, you can access AT&T's fiber internet service, which uses 100% fiber technology.
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In addition, optical networks are made up of optical fibers of various types, lengths, and generations, some of which have been deployed for more than 30 years and have an estimated life span of 20 to 40 years.
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The short version: Fiber is faster, more reliable, and more expensive. Cable is slower, but it still supports fast speeds and is more widely available.
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Like we mentioned, fiber-optic internet lines transfer data using modulated light instead of electricity. That gives them much higher bandwidth capacity, since they're not bound by the physical limitations of electricity conducting through metal.
