Fiber Optic Cabling

What is Fiber Optic Cabling?

Fiber Optic cable consists of one cable that contains one or many optical cables. This type of cabling is generally used in telephone lines and transmitting cable signals. You have probably heard the term used from time-to-time. You probably even know of someone who works in Fiber Optics.

The glass-like wires inside of this type of cable are enclosed in a jacket layer as well as bound by flexible polymer. Some jacket layers are made of a light-absorbing material that prevents light to leak out and create crossover noise or flares within the connection. The outside of the cable if coated with a tough resin to protect the inner wires.

For uses where Fiber Optic cable may come in contact with water, barriers of water-repellent jelly, absorbing powder or copper tubing is also implemented into the composition of the cable. This is very important because water contamination can reduce the strength of the fibers.

Fiber Optic cable can consist of up to a thousand fibers in a single cable. The performance of modern cables easily accommodates bandwidths on a point-to-point connection.

Fiber Optic cables have many advantages over the previous copper component wires. In comparison, Fiber Optic cables are less expensive, thinner, lower power, non-flammable, more flexible, and lightweight. They have a higher carrying capacity and less chance of signal degradation than previously used cable types. This is ideal for large businesses or even educational facilities. Rather than having large cables run throughout the business, Fiber Optic cables provide a much more feasible option.