Internet via fiber optics has become popular in India in recent times thanks to its promise of high-speed connections. In fact, the use of this type of cabling has allowed the launch of plans above 100 Mbps in the country for more attractive prices and better quality services. But along with the expectation and euphoria, some myths and misunderstandings about this technology have also become commonplace.
To help you better understand the operation of fiber optics, the Techkhiladi gathered some common questions about this type of connection. Following are some technical features and details of this type of service, as well as comparisons with traditional copper wires. Check out:
Table of Contents
How does it work?
Unlike conventional wires, which use copper and other metals to conduct information, fiber optic cables have glass in their core. Everything starts with a transmitter in the operator’s central, capable of converting data into light beams and transmitting them over distances can reach up to 40 or 80 kilometers without being distorted. However, it is possible to go longer paths, provided a transmitter is used to reinforce the signals.
When you get home, the light beams are converted back into your data modem. All this process occurs at high speeds and without interference. As a result, fiber optics can reach rates of up to 50 Gbps in ideal conditions, although most commercial packages available in your country are currently in the range of 100 Mbps to 500 Mbps.
To get an idea of the transmission power of fiber optics, a cable with the diameter of a hair can transmit 2.5 million phone calls simultaneously. A conventional copper cable would need a diameter of six meters to conduct the same amount of information.
As you can see, fiber optic connections can be used for many purposes besides the internet. You can use it for phone calls, sending TV signals, audio connections, and more. However, the most popular usage in recent years is its use for ultra-high speed connection. After this brief explanation, let’s go to the main myths and common doubts.
1 – Is the cable fragile because it is made of glass?
Different from what is thought, the fiber optic cable is not more fragile because it has glass in its composition. On the contrary, in comparison with other wires, this type of cable is even more resistant to high voltages and temperatures than metal models. This is because layers of protection leave them very resistant to their daily use.
What happens, in fact, is that fiber optic cables require some extra care at the time of installation. When cutting wire, the technician must be careful not to damage the glass core. In addition, care must also be taken to prevent dirt from interfering with the transmission of the light beams and, consequently, the stability of the connection.
2 – Does the optical fiber suffer interference or loss of signal?
As stated earlier, fiber optic cables have a coating that makes them less susceptible to deterioration than conventional cables. In addition, by using glass in its core and insulation materials, the optical fiber also does not suffer electromagnetic interference such as the copper wires and other metal alloy types.
In terms of security, incidentally, fiber optic connections are also ahead. Because copper wires leak “electromagnetic” signals, a hacker can access this information without needing physical contact. In the case of light transmissions, you must have access to the cable core to intercept information. That is, the user tends to be more secure in fiber optics, but in doubt, always use encryption.
3 – Will the optical fiber increase my speed?
The traditional, and most popular, UTP networks can reach speeds up to 100 Mbps in most cases. However, up to 1 Gbps can be achieved with the use of cat6 cables, which have not yet become popular. Fiber optic connections, in turn, can reach speeds of up to 50 Gbps.
That is, a fiber optic Internet can, in theory, deliver more speed in your home. However, the speeds currently offered by operators are not so different from traditional speeds that are used with other cables. Even so, the expectation is that the newer networks stand out because they do not suffer interference and, consequently, because they are more stable.
It should also be noted that while traditional methods are reaching their peak speed, fiber optic networks do not realize their full potential. That is, although operators do not deliver a much higher connection currently, the trend is for improvements to be made more easily in the future.
4 – Does the fiber optic cable go to my house or to the street?
The fiber optic network can indeed get you to your home, but this is not always the case. Each operator works differently, and today we have three main means for their distribution. Look:
- FTTB (Fiber To The Building) – The fiber optic network reaches the entrance of a building. In a terminal, the access will be distributed via metallic cable to its users;
- FTTA (Fiber To The Apartment) – Fiber To The Apartment – The optical fiber reaches a central in the building, and from where the optical signal is split with splitters to reach its users;
- FTTH (Fiber To The Home) – The fiber optic network reaches your user’s home in an optical receiver.
5 – Is implementation more complex?
When the technology came along, its installation was actually quite complicated and the price was not at all advantageous. After all, the experts spent a few attempts to get a good connection because of their not very sophisticated connectors.
Nowadays, however, its connectors are more similar to those we use in other networks: the traditional Catx. Another important point is that the price of its cables has also been decreasing constantly due to its popularization and greater availability, including raw material.
Finally, the layers of protection and insulation mentioned above also tend to help in a very important issue: the maintenance price. As they suffer more at high temperatures and deteriorate faster, copper wires need to be replaced frequently to continue delivering satisfactory results.
If you need help, have doubts or concerns, do not hesitate to leave a comment in the comment box below and we will try to help you as soon as possible!