Why are optical fibres an efficient way to transmit messages?
Fibre optics have several advantages over traditional metal communications lines:
1. Fibre optic cables are less susceptible to interference than copper wire. Unlike light signals in copper wire, they do not interfere with other fibres in the same cable. This results in clearer phone conversations or television reception.
2. Fibre optic cables are much thinner and lighter than metal wires, yet they can carry more information. The signals in optical fibres do not weaken as much over long distances as the signals in ordinary cables. For example, if you telephone Europe from the United States, you often hear an echo on the line. On the other hand, with fibre optic cables, you have a direct connection with no echoes.
3. Fibre optic cables have a much greater bandwidth than metal cables. This means that they can carry more data. Fibre optic cables carry 300Mbits/sec of data whereas in most industrial applications, only 1 to 10Mbits/sec of data are carried.
4. Since the recent years, messages such as long distance calls and internet costs have been dramatically lowered down when fibre replaced copper. Optical cables are less expensive than copper wires of the same length.
5. Since signals in optical fibres weaken less, low-power transmitters can be used instead of high-voltage transmitters used in copper wires. This means optical cables cost less.
6. Optical fibres can be laid underground or underwater.
7. Since fibre optic cables do not conduct electricity, signals are not affected by lightning.
8. Data can be transmitted digitally rather than analogically.
Today, 25 million kilometres of the cable Maurer, Keck and Schultz designed have been installed around the world.
1. Fibre optic cables are less susceptible to interference than copper wire. Unlike light signals in copper wire, they do not interfere with other fibres in the same cable. This results in clearer phone conversations or television reception.
2. Fibre optic cables are much thinner and lighter than metal wires, yet they can carry more information. The signals in optical fibres do not weaken as much over long distances as the signals in ordinary cables. For example, if you telephone Europe from the United States, you often hear an echo on the line. On the other hand, with fibre optic cables, you have a direct connection with no echoes.
3. Fibre optic cables have a much greater bandwidth than metal cables. This means that they can carry more data. Fibre optic cables carry 300Mbits/sec of data whereas in most industrial applications, only 1 to 10Mbits/sec of data are carried.
4. Since the recent years, messages such as long distance calls and internet costs have been dramatically lowered down when fibre replaced copper. Optical cables are less expensive than copper wires of the same length.
5. Since signals in optical fibres weaken less, low-power transmitters can be used instead of high-voltage transmitters used in copper wires. This means optical cables cost less.
6. Optical fibres can be laid underground or underwater.
7. Since fibre optic cables do not conduct electricity, signals are not affected by lightning.
8. Data can be transmitted digitally rather than analogically.
Today, 25 million kilometres of the cable Maurer, Keck and Schultz designed have been installed around the world.