Fibre optic cable, also known as optical fibre cable, is a type of high-speed data transmission medium that uses strands of glass or plastic fibres to transmit data in the form of pulses of light. It is widely used in telecommunications and computer networking to transmit large amounts of data over long distances. Find out more in our fibre optic cables guide.
The core of a fibre optic cable is a thin strand of glass or plastic, known as the optical fibre. This core is surrounded by a layer called the cladding, which has a slightly lower refractive index than the core. This refractive index difference allows light to be transmitted along the fibre by bouncing off the interface between the core and cladding in a process called total internal reflection.
Fibre optic cables have several advantages over traditional copper cables. They can transmit data over longer distances without loss of signal quality, have higher bandwidth capabilities, and are resistant to electromagnetic interference. They are also thinner, lighter, and more flexible than copper cables, making them easier to install and maintain.
Fibre optic cables are used in a variety of applications, including long-distance telecommunications networks, internet backbone infrastructure, cable television (CATV) systems, and local area networks (LANs). They are also used for high-speed data transmission in industries such as healthcare, aerospace, and data centres.