Fiber Optics Can Change the Way You Do Business
Business owners often wonder whether fiber is worth installing and whether copper cables are still worth having. This is a complex question, as both fiber optics and traditional copper cables have their benefits and limitations. Traditional copper cables, for example, are slightly cheaper to install (especially in areas where fiber is not yet available), while fiber optics can be more expensive, depending on the scope of the project.
The monetary gap between these two cabling protocols is closing quickly, so this difference alone is not enough to justify getting (or maintaining) traditional cabling solutions. That is why we have created this handy guide to fiber and its biggest advantages.
What Is Fiber?
Fiber is a kind of cabling technology (made of delicate glass fibers – hence the name) that uses steady light pulses to transmit information. This is different from traditional copper cabling, which uses electrical pulses to carry information. Everything from videos to text files can be transmitted in this way. Light travels much faster than electricity, which means information transmission on a fiber line tends to be much faster (and can thus be done in higher volumes) than traditional copper cabling. This makes it a great asset when connected to the internet, which is a central hub of information in the world of today.
The Advantages of Installing Fiber Optics in Your Business
Before you fully commit to either fiber or copper (or even an integrated solution), it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of each cabling protocol. As we mentioned earlier, the monetary gap is closing between the two technologies, making them nearly equal on that front. Fiber was much more expensive to install in previous years, but the pricing is going down. Other than a simple difference in price, there are some key advantages that fiber has over its copper counterpart.
These are the advantages of fiber optics:
- Faster speeds. When people think of fiber, they think of speed. That is because it is an inherent property of the technology. In businesses that rely on information collection and processing, which is largely done over the internet, having a fast connection can make a world of difference. This technology also provides better parity between upload and download speeds.
- Higher bandwidth. Fiber has a much higher capacity to transmit information simultaneously, which is what higher bandwidth is. This is an important attribute of the technology that makes it ideal for information transmission and processing.
- Reduced latency. Latency is any kind of delay in the transmission and processing of data. Lower latency is good, as it means there will be lower overall disruptions. Disruptions can be costly in businesses that rely on information technology, making this another important attribute.
- Better security. Copper lines are notorious for being vulnerable to both theft and wiretapping (or intercepting the transmissions on a copper line to use or sell in a way that is damaging to the business). These concerns are all but gone with fiber optics.
- More robust. Another major flaw of copper-based technology is that it is highly vulnerable to electromagnetic interference. External sources of heat and electricity can wreak havoc on copper lines and severely impact their performance. This interference can come from heavy machinery or other densely laid cable networks, which means that it is a more common issue than one may realise.
- Increased reliability. All these benefits are due to the innate properties of fiber lines. That means the technology is much more reliable and can deliver more consistent results than its traditional counterparts.
Talk To Us
If you want fiber in your business, you should talk to us. We offer a wide variety of different cabling solutions that can be scaled to your business and its unique requirements. Contact us.
