Why Fiber Optic Cabling Is the Best Choice for You

When setting up your network, your best option for cables is always going to be fiber optic. While copper cables can still get the job done, fiber optic cables are the more modern option with greater capabilities.

The benefits of fiber optic cabling for West Virginia businesses are numerous. Here are just a few of the biggest reasons why IT professionals will always recommend fiber optic cables over copper:

  • Faster transmission: This is the single biggest reason to opt for fiber optic cabling over copper. You can expect to get much better speed results out of fiber optic than the alternative. Bandwidth is the standard measurement of data transmission rates, in gigabits per second (or terabits per second, in some cases). Copper-based transmissions will be able to provide a max transmission speed of around 40 gbps, whereas fiber optic cables can transmit data close to the speed of light—tests have measured fiber optic data transmission speeds in the hundreds of terabits per second, which is outrageously fast.
  • No electromagnetic interference: Copper cabling results in a field of interference that forms around the cabling due to the electrical signaling. This means if there are multiple cables running close to each other, you could have interference bleeding into other cables nearby, which can result in security risks or worse transmission results. With fiber optics, there is no electromagnetic interference to worry about, so you get greater security, fewer risks of retransmission and overall a stronger, more reliable network.
  • Longer distances: Fiber optic cables are capable of transmitting data over much longer distances than copper. With copper you can expect to get up to about a hundred meters, but you can get more than 24 miles with fiber optic cabling, making it an especially excellent option for large buildings.
  • Better cable management: Because fiber optic strands are extremely narrow (measured in microns) and might have similar diameters to that of human hair, cable management becomes significantly easier, as you have much more space to work with. For the purpose of comparison, copper cables tend to be about four times the width of a fiber optic cable, all while carrying just a fraction of the data. By freeing up some space, you’re also able to create better circulation of the air in a data center.
  • Long-term investment: Bandwidth requirements are constantly increasing as the amount of data we consume significantly increases. There’s a lot more streaming video happening now, for example, than there was even just a decade ago, and the amount of data we use will only continue to increase into the future. Because fiber optic cables provide better bandwidth and speed, you can trust that using a network built on fiber optic will future proof your network and give you many more years. You can’t say the same for copper, which is already outdated for many people’s level of internet usage.

For more information about the benefits of fiber optic cabling in West Virginia, contact GlobalTech Communications with any questions you have.

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