Saturday, January 18, 2014

The Pros And Cons Of Fiber Optics

By Amanda Bean


The talks about fiber optics have been in existence ever since long ago. This is because the concept of a fast Internet connection via light reflection has started long ago. Even if this is the case, there are only a few places that use an all-optical network. It is still not a common option because of some flaws and other similar things.

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.

There is also the advantage of signal reliability. Electrical signals are easily exposed to electromagnetic interference. The bit error rate of the electrical systems when there is an electromagnetic interference will god up then. For the optical signals, it does not suffer from electromagnetic interference. Since there is no signal loss, the bit error rate is smaller.

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.

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 the said product will also serve as its disadvantage. It is an extremely fragile item. The optical fibers must never be bended too much. Otherwise, its light reflecting properties will be lost. If the optical fibers are damaged, the cost and complexity of the repairs will prove to be troublesome.

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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