Fiber optics is the technology of using glass-based waveguides to transport information from one point to another in the form of light.
A basic fiber optic system consists of a transmitting device which generates the light signal;an optical fiber cable which carries the light; and a receiver which accepts the lightsignal. The information (voice, data, or video) is encoded into electrical signals. At thelight source, these electrical signals are converted into either digital or analog light signals.Once the signals are converted to light, they travel down the fiber until they reach adetector which changes the light signals back into electrical signals. Finally, the electricalsignals are decoded into information in the form of voice, data, and/or video.
Fiber optic cables have many advantages:
- Cables can be all dielectric, no electromagnetic interference.
- Low loss allows long links without a repeater.
- Universal medium – video, data or voice applications.
- Small, lightweight cables make handling and installation easy.
- Virtually unlimited bandwidth or information carrying capacity.
Optical fiber can carry more data at faster rates for longer distances than copper andcoax. When an optimum architecture is deployed, fiber optic networks are inherently future-proof for building outside plant infrastructure.
