Fiber optics, yes, surely those of you who have been offered for broadband internet installation in your home are already familiar with the term this latest internet technology.
This optical fiber is one of the cornerstones of technology to provide internet services other than satellite. Satellite technology is different from using media in the form of air and vacuum.
This optical fiber uses light-conducting media where this type of cable has a large enough bandwidth that can transmit data faster than conventional cables.
Especially in this article, we will discuss the cable more deeply, which is the most advanced internet network technology today.
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Fiber Optic Cable
Before discussing more deeply about the benefits and types of fiber optic cables, it’s a good idea to first know the meaning of this type of cable itself.
Let’s look at some explanations covering the history, understanding, workings, and advantages of these cables below.
History of Fiber Optic
The history of this type of cable we need to review back from the 1930s, a medical student named Heinrich Lamm discovered optical fiber which examined light as an information carrier.
Lamm began his experiments to transmit light through optical fibers. At that time LAMM research was still not perfect but it was already transmitting light through materials and optics.
Then this optical fiber research was continued by British scientists who in 1958 proposed a prototype optical fiber at that time which was made of a glass core wrapped in other glass.
Then in 1973 John MacChesney and Paul O. Connor at Bell Laboratories, New Jersey, United States, have helped develop the vapor deposition process of chemical vapors into the form of ultratransparent glass which then produces optical fibers that have much less power and can be mass produced. .
Understanding Fiber Optic
Fiber optic cable is a cable consisting of optical fibers in an insulated protective jacket.
Optical fiber is a very thin strand of pure glass capable of carrying information in the form of light.
This cable itself is an evolution of network communication media since the last four decades.
This cable also virtually eliminates traditional networking methods that still use metal cables to provide higher bandwidth and transmit data over longer distances.
How Fiber Optic Works
Talking about how this type of cable works, it can be used according to its needs. Usually this cable is used as the backbone of the network, for example to connect inter-island networks, connecting branch offices, buildings and others.
This type of cable has the benefit of transmitting millions of data from branch offices to headquarters to across island to island.
Some things you need to know are the inter-island networks from Bali and Papua which consist of these types of cables.
So that the fiber optic cable from the city of Jakarta is pulled by sea which is pulled by the cable to the data center on the island of Bali.
Then the satellite signal will give a response that you are communicating using the internet or telephone. Because without transmission from this type of cable the signal loss rate will be very high or it can also experience delays with a fairly long internet connection.
Advantages of Fiber Optic
Some of the advantages of fiber optics include:
The ability of this type of cable is very good in delivering data with a larger capacity in a long enough transmission distance.
It has a transmission speed high enough to reach gigabits, but is prone to very low data loss.
Can increase the security of the cable which is quite high, so that it can affect the interference of radio signals, motors, and cables that are in the vicinity, can make the cable more widely used in banking infrastructure or companies that require a high level of security.
Withstands hot and flammable environments.
This fiber optic has a much smaller size than copper cable so it can save data center space.
Types of Fiber Optic Cable
Fiber Optic Cable has two different types, including:
Single Mode Fiber Optic Cable
As the name implies, this single mode cable is an optical cable with a single transmission that has one core to spread light. At the core of this cable, the diameter is quite small, only 9 micrometers.
Multimode Fiber Optic Cable
Another type of optical cable is the multimode cable. In contrast to Single Mode, this cable has many transmissions so that it can spread light at one time. The core size of this optical cable is larger, which is approximately 625 micrometers.
Fiber Optic Components
For a more complete understanding, optical fiber is also divided into more than one component, including:
Core
At the core of a cable of this type is the most important part which is glass fiber, this section usually has a diameter of 2-5 micrometers.
This core has a larger size indicating the better the quality of the cable.
cladding
Cladding is a jacket or protective part of a type of cable that serves to protect the core.
The diameter of this cladding is 5-250 micrometers which emits light from the outside to the core.
Coat
The coat is the same part as the cladding which functions as a jacket which both protect the core. The protection of the core needs to be multi-layered so as to provide resistance to the cable to maintain the quality of data transmission. This part of the coat is usually arranged in different colors.
Outer Jacket And Strength Member
The last two components are the main protection in a fiber optic cable, namely the outer jacket and strength member. Its function is also the same as that of the mantle and cladding which can also protect the core from damage.
Uses of Optical Fiber in Various Fields
Fiber optic cables have many uses that we don’t realize are very useful in our lives, including:
Internet
Fiber optic cables can transmit very high speeds with large amounts of data. Therefore this technology is usually used for cable internet. Compared to conventional copper cables, this type of cable is much lighter, smaller, flexible, and can carry a lot of data.
Cable Television
The use of cable signal transmission cables has grown explosively over the years.
This cable is ideal for transmitting signals for cable tv use with higher bandwidth and speed. These cables are less expensive compared to the same amount of conventional cables.
Phone
Telephone is one of the most popular telecommunication tools to date which has experienced a very significant development using this technology. We can connect faster and get clear sound without any lag on both sides.
Computer network
Networking between computers, especially in a close area such as a building, is easier and faster using fiber optic cables.
By decreasing the time required to transmit resources and information across the network.
Medical
This type of cable is also widely used in medicine and research. Optical communication is used for non-intrusive or endoscopic surgical methods. This application only takes one minute, bright light is used for the body to illuminate the operating area for the body, so as to minimize accidents. This cable can also be used for microscope and biomedical research.
Lighting And Decoration
The use of these cables in the field of decorative illumination has also grown over the years. Fo cables add an easy, economical and attractive solution to lighting projects. As a result, they are widely used in lighting decorations and lit Christmas trees.
Mechanical Inspection
This reliable speed is also very useful in hard-to-reach inspection places. For example, at the inspection site of the engineers and also the inspection of pipes and piping engineers.
Military And Space Applications
This type of cable also offers a high level of data security and is indispensable in military and aerospace applications.
Automotive Industry
With the use of this type of wiring plays an important role in the safety and lighting features of modern cars.
Where lighting, both inside and outside the car with this cable is able to save space and provide superior lighting and can be used in more vehicles every day.
That’s our discussion of what a fiber optic cable from Netdata is, which can have very important uses in everyday life and almost all fields.
