In today’s era, everyone is in a hurry and wants to do their work quickly without any interruption. Thus, Fibre optic cables have come out to be game changers across different sectors. These cables allow you to enjoy your streaming, online gaming and other professional work at exceptional speed. The reason is that they use light instead of electrical signals. This makes them faster, less susceptible to interference, and more efficient in terms of data transfer.
In this guide, we will discuss in detail fibre optic cables, their core components, production process, use and many more. So, keep reading to discover this piece of modern technology!
1) Introduction to fiber optic cable
“Fiber optic cable is a type of wire made of very fine threads of glass or plastic which transmits information in the form of light signals.”
I must say that if you use fiber optic cables instead of copper wires, you will get rid of several problems. For example; with copper wires, you have to face signal loss problems causing interruptions in your streaming and gaming experience. The reason is that copper wires use electric current to transmit data which can interfere with the other metal wires causing signal loss.
On the other hand, optic fiber cables use light which is free of any kind of surrounding disturbance thus you can enjoy high performance. Moreover, you know fiber optic cables allow the transfer of data at the speed of light which is 299,792 kilometers per hour. Thus, these properties make fiber optic cables ideal tools for advanced communication.
Moreover, a Quora user named Chris Antoniou has shared his experience of using fibre optic cable. He said that they previously used copper wires in their street but when they replaced them with fibre optic cables, the speed of signals increased by 30-40%. Thus, now with real-life experience, you can estimate fibre optic cable performance.
2) What is fiber optic cable made of?
You will be amazed to know that fibre optic cable though it physically appears as a single wire is created from multiple layers of materials and components that are configured to guide light signals as best as possible. Each additional layer adds up to the overall effectiveness of the internet cables. Now, let’s analyze these components:
i) Core:
You see, these cables have a transparent wire at the centre, which is called the core. In this transparent core, light signals travel by refraction ( like a wave is trapped in a wire, bouncing off its walls ). So, as this core is transparent, it is made of either glass or plastic. As you guys estimated glass has better qualities & clarity so it provides better travelling of light mostly used for longer distances ( city to city or continent to continent ) while plastic no matter how pure always has impurities and low natural qualities, so it is used for shorter-range projects.
ii) Cladding:
Secondly, if we talk about cladding then the region which covers the core is simply named as the cladding. It is also made from glass or plastic but has a low refractive index ( controls the bending of light ) as compared to the core. Thus, the light waves that exit the core are reflected back towards it and you can get rid of any signal loss.
iii) Buffer Coating:
Buffer coating acts as a protective shield against some degree of physical damage, moisture, dirt and other environmental factors. This buffering layer ensures the internal arrangement of the cable is preserved along with the signal, thus providing disturbance-free streaming or browsing.
iv) Strength Members:
The strength member is usually placed at the centre of the fibre optic cable and made up of steel or Kevlar. You know when you plug your fibre cable in the duct these strength member acts like a hero by protecting fibres from stress, bending or pulling forces. Got it!
v) Outer Jacket:
Last but not least, the outer jacket is a protective layer of the cable that guards it from extreme heat, moisture, chemicals, and physical damage. With this, the cable can still be functional regardless of the use environment and ensures that you stay connected everywhere the cable is used.
3) How is fiber optic cable produced?
Now, let’s go through the fibre optic cable manufacturing process step by step!
Step 1: Making Glass Preform
First of all, you have to make glass perform which you can call the heart of the cable. Thus, pure silica is heated to a melting point of around 2000°C. During the melting process, the silica is transformed into an easy-to-manage liquid which takes the shape of a cylinder. This cylinder is actually known as the preform, and it will serve as the core of the fibre optic cable.
To ensure the preform is strong, a process called CVD or Chemical Vapor Deposition is used. It deposits multiple layers of silica to further enhance its strength and purity. Your eyes might miss it, but this fibre has added benefit due to the CVD process which light gets transmitted over longer distances.
Step 2: Heating and Stretching the Preform
The preform now gets an additional 2000°C heat which makes the preform soft and pliable. It’s very similar to pulling taffy at a candy store. The preform is very carefully fed into a device which turns the glass into long thin strands approximately microns wide—125 microns to be exact, the same thickness as human hair. This step is crucial because having the perfect diameter is essential to the fibre successfully transmitting light.
Step 3: Coating the Fibre for Protection
Now, you have to add coating material to the fibre so it remains unharmed during use. This coating protects the glass from moisture, dirt, and even bending the glass onto itself.
Meanwhile, protection is also the incorporation of Kevlar which works to make the fibre even more tough. These materials greatly eliminate the chances of damaging the fibre, especially if it is to be buried or subjected to high-pressure environments.
Step 4: Assembling the Fibre into Cables
Now these stronger and protected individual fibres are bundled together forming a fibre optic cable. You can think of it as a fusion of a few strands resembling spaghetti coming together to form a single, tough cord.
Step 5: Elemental Verification
Before any kind of practical use, the cables undergo rigorous testing. During the testing stage, a multitude of significant components undergo verification such as attenuation, which is the measure of loss of energy (in this case, light) in a given system.
Secondly, you also have to test the strength of the cable. Keep in mind that only cables that have gone through the outlined tests can be used to guarantee high-quality internet services.
Step 6: Ready to use
If all tests have been conducted and passed by the cable, then you can finally use the cable for a variety of defined purposes.
4) Explain the uses of fibre optic cables
The uses of fibre optic cables are practically limitless as their implementation grows more and more widespread. Let us review some of the most fascinating things fibre optic cables can do.
i) Telecommunications
Most people are unaware that fibre optics technology is the backbone of the telecommunication industry. Have you ever used video calling or watched a movie online with no interruptions? If yes, then you can thank fibre optics! Moreover, you know 5G network which provides extraordinary speeds to the network made possible through these fibre cables.
ii) Medical Applications
Well! Apart from enabling internet access, fibre optic cables are also playing a key role in the medical field. For instance, fibre optic technology allows surgeons to perform endoscopic surgeries where light is used to see the inside of the body. They are also used in laser surgeries which makes surgery safer and more effective.
iii) Military Use
Moreover, fibre optic cables are also used in the military to provide safer communication whteher underground sensor systems. It helps guarantee that sensitive information is kept safe from hackers.
iv) Data Centres and Cloud Computing
I must say that the next time you upload a video or photo, try to think that your data is being transferred through fibre optic cables in data centres. These cables ensure that you can download and upload data without any delay.
Let me remind you, that the next time you are chatting with someone from across the globe, know that fibre optic cables are working tirelessly around the clock to ensure all your needs are met in a short time.
5) What are the advantages and disadvantages of fibre optic cables
Cables made of fiber optic technology are some of the best technological products we have today because of their many advantages. However, as every picture has both bright and dark aspects similar is the case with fiber optic cables. So, let’s have a look at both advantages and disadvantages!
i) Advantages of fiber optic cables
+ Faster Speeds: Fibre optic cables allow the transfer of information at high speeds. Thus, you can play your online games and stream without any interruption.
Moreover, a person named D’ Angle Corres on Quora has commented that owing to fiber optic cables, you can download a 4-hour video in less than 2 minutes and upload it in less than 1 minute. His comment also shows the exceptional speed of fiber optic cables.
+ Higher Bandwidth: Also, these cables can carry a large volume of data. Thus, you will not get lagging, regardless of how many users are connected at the same time in your house.
+ Resistance to Interference: As discussed earlier, fiber optic cables resist disruption from electrical interference. So, unlike ordinary cables which get slowed down due to surrounding electronic devices, your connection has the capability of staying stable.
+ Lightweight and durable: Fiber optic cables are also lightweight which helps you a lot during installation. Unlike copper cables, these new cables are used in more challenging environments due to their high strength.
i) Disadvantages of fiber optic cables
– Higher Start-up Cost: Firstly, fiber optic cables do have a higher start-up cost. But trust me after buying it you will value it as it is more durable thus you you will not have to spend any money on their repair and maintenance.
6) Final Words
In conclusion, I would say that today fiber optic cables are one of the modern technologies in the world as they connect people across the globe speedily and reliably. These cables are resistant to interferences, are able to transfer data at high speeds, and are crucial to nearly every aspect of life from medical technology to Internet connections.
If you are seeking reliable and high-quality fiber optic cables, look no further than Dekam Fiber. This Chinese company has gained a well-deserved reputation for its innovative and customized copper-free products. So why wait? request an instant quote today.
