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Both professionally and privately, we are placing increasing demands on internet connectivity. Modern technologies like cloud computing, IoT and big data demand high bandwidth and high availability of internet services. Networks that can grow with businesses’ needs are also required.
Fiber optics could be the ideal solution for people and businesses looking for reliable and fast internet. Even if you don’t yet have fiber optics, everyone has heard about the technology. This article will explain what fiber optics are and how it works in practice. We will also briefly discuss the various types of fiber optics as well as the benefits. We also show how organizations can make high-quality fiber optic connections.
What’s Fiber Optic?
An optical fiber is a thin, wafer-thin fiber with a thickness of 125 to 250 microns (approximately 0.125 – 0.25 millimeters). It is also les
s thick than human hair. The fiber is made up of two types of glass, one with a thin core and one with a thicker cladding. This is in contrast to traditional copper internet cables. These two types of glass fuse together to form an ironclad unit despite being very thin. Fiber-optic cable was established in the 1960s. Elias Snitzer, Will Hicks and others noticed in 1961 that dust particles in the open-air blocked light passage.
The best light carrier was a glass cable, which they discovered. In 1970, the first fiber-optic cable was made. Fiber optic technology today is far more advanced and powerful than what the pioneers could have imagined. You would like to learn the differences between fibers optic, cable, and (A.)DSL. This and other information can be found in our article “The difference between (A.)DSL, cable and fiber optic: What are your organization’s requirements?”
Read Also: Technology
What Does it Mean?
This technology transmits digital information via a cable using laser light. Laser light acts as a carrier wave to digital data transport. The optical transmitting and receiving equipment used determines the bandwidth. Light travels at lightning speed, which is much faster than electricity. It can easily cover long distances without losing speed.
Because the tiny cables are enclosed by optical material, very little light and data escapes before it reaches the receiver. Data can be sent at amazing speeds. Fiber optics technology is very similar to Morse Code. Data (video, audio, emails, photos and text files) are converted into flashing light signals. This is similar to Morse code signals that transmit messages. Data is transferred faster if the fiber optic lasers flash faster.
Different Types of Optical Fibers
There are many types of optical fibers available. Fiber optics can be used for many purposes. It is important to understand the purpose of fiber optics and which type will be best suited to that purpose. For example, are you looking to send data over short distances or long distances?
How fast should data be transferred? Is it necessary to transfer the data in real-time and within a few seconds? Or can near real-time and a longer time frame suffice? We can distinguish between single-mode and multiple-mode fiber optics.
Single-mode fiber single-mode fiber is a fiber optic version that can transmit data over longer distances (up to 40 km). Single-mode fiber is a small core diameter (between 5 and 10 microns) that transmits data only over one light beam. The maximum transfer speed is approximately one terabyte (or as much as 1000 GB per second). Signal transmission takes place at wavelengths of 1310 and/or1550 nanometers.
One-mode optical fibers can either be classified as OS1 or OS2. OS1 has a tightly buffered design on Internet, while OS2 is a loose tube. OS1 is considered obsolete and seldom used due to OS2 being faster, more efficient, and farther away.
Multimode Fiber
Multimode optical fiber is also available. This fiber-optic cable can transmit digital signals over very short distances (up to about 1100 m). The transfer rate is slightly slower than single-mode fiber. The core diameter of a multimode fiber is 50-63 microns. This means that it has greater bandwidth than single-mode fiber. This allows you to send more data at once. Multimode fibers transmit signals at wavelengths of 1300 and/or 850 nanometers.
Multimode optical fibers can be classified into five groups: O1 to O5. The more advanced numbers O4 and O5 are better than the ones O1 through O3. They transmit data at slightly higher speeds over slightly longer distances.
Speed of a Fiber Optic Connection
Internet via optical fiber is faster than other connections. For example, optical fiber can be up to ten times faster than the fastest copper connection (xDSL), and it has the potential for even greater speeds. As a result, speed records are being set in test environments. For example, in 2017, 53.3 Terabytes per Second (53,300 GB/s) was reached in a test environment; this figure has since increased to 319 Terabytes per Second.
Although we don’t yet see such dizzying speeds in the “real world”, there is still some progress. For example, NASA, an American space agency, is able to use “only” 400GB per second. Parts of the USA and Japan have the fastest fiber-optic connections available to private individuals. These connections can handle approximately 10 GB per second.
Belgium’s private ceiling is 1 GB per sec. However, most fiber-optic connections or subscriptions don’t exceed 500 MB/sec. Belgium already has 10 GB/second business internet via optical fiber. Experts expect that fiber-optic connections will quickly gain speed beyond the test labs.
What Makes Fiber Optic Internet Ideal?
Fiber internet is perfect for multiple users and for many reasons. Fiber internet service:
- It will allow you to quickly download and upload files.
- You can have a smooth online gaming experience as well as video chat with your family and friends.
- It takes just minutes to back up your entire hard drive, including large photos and videos, to the cloud.
- Instead of waiting around for 30 minutes, you can download two-hour movies in a matter of seconds.
Five Main Benefits of Fiber Optic Internet
Fiber optics offer many benefits. It offer speed, but it is not the only benefit. Fiber optics also offer the highest degree of reliability, which is a huge advantage in a world where both consumers and businesses can’t live without the internet. While short-term downtime can be a nuisance to many people (even though continuous internet access is becoming more important as we all work remotely), it can also prove costly for businesses and the self-employed. As a result, businesses and entrepreneurs lose customers and revenue when there is downtime.
Optic fiber’s strength and reliability are its greatest assets. It is resistant to lightning strikes, corrosion and radio frequencies, so it works almost all the time. Fiber optics are not affected by the activities of colleagues or neighbors.
Business Fiber Optics at Euro Fiber
Euro fiber business fiber optics will provide you with fast, flexible and reliable fiber-optic connections through an open network. Fiber-optic cables are laid underground in sheathing tubes (ducts). Your connections are protect from damage and disruption by this extra layer.
Euro fiber’s fiber optic network covers nearly 60.100 km and includes over 12,000 locations in Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. You can choose which service providers and services you want to use, as it is an open network. Do you want more reliability and speed? Managed Dark Fiber provides a private, underground connection that connects multiple locations. Fiber-optic cables are weld underground. This provides benefits like:
- Lower attenuation than above ground patching
- is often shorter and more efficient routes
- even lower interference sensitivity
- optimal security