What is fiber optic

Glass fiber is a construction material with many properties. We use them to transport data as quickly as possible. With this new technology, internet speed has reached a whole new level. Up to 300 Mbit / s are currently possible for downloading and uploading. In the case of fiber optic networks, data rates from gigabits to terabits per second can theoretically be achieved - regardless of the distance. Other current broadband technologies such as cellular communications / LTE or television cable are nowhere near the performance of a fiber optic infrastructure.

Define fiber: Optical fiber - fiber optic

In the case of fiber optic connections, data is not transmitted by means of electricity , but by light pulses. Fiber optic cables (LWL) are cables made up of fiber optics and partially assembled with connectors for the transmission of light . The light is guided in fibers made of plastic (polymer optical fibers = POF) - glass fibers. Usually several optical fibers are bundled in the cables.

What is a fiber optic connection?

Fiber optic cables are blown into empty tubes that go into the building. These are also known as feeders, drops or microtubes . Empty tubes always go from the house connection to a fiber distributor and from there to a local control center, the so-called Point of Presence (= PoP). From there it goes over the backbone (= main connection of the provider) to the next large Internet hub.

Need for a fiber optic connection for a house

advantages

Fiber optic connections are not only faster , they are also demonstrably less prone to failure .

Unlike in the past, the copper cable is no longer needed on the “last mile” and is being replaced by glass fibers. Then one speaks of the fiber optic FTTB (Fiber to the Building) technology - every house receives a direct fiber optic line.

From a physical point of view, optical waveguides are dielectric waveguides. They are made up of concentric layers: in the center is the light-guiding core, it is surrounded by a cladding with a slightly lower refractive index and by additional protective layers made of plastic. Depending on the application, the core has a diameter of a few micrometers to over a millimeter.

So far, fiber optic cables have been used as a transmission medium, especially in communications engineering, for wired communication systems. Since glass fibers achieve the highest ranges and transmission rates, they have already replaced electrical transmission on copper cables in many areas.