There are many types of optical fibers. I have to mention plastic optical fibers here. Many people say that plastic optical fibers are ideal for FTTD. Whether the application prospect of optical fiber is good or not.
Are Plastic Optical Fibers Ideal for FTTD?
Fiber to the desktop FTTD (FibertotheDesktop) means that the optical fiber replaces the traditional copper cable transmission medium and directly extends to the user terminal computer, so that the user terminal can achieve network access through the optical fiber throughout the process. The copper cable system is still dominant in the workspace subsystem due to its low cost, simple installation and construction, convenient maintenance and support for PoE Ethernet technology. However, with the development of optical communication technology, the bottleneck of copper cable system upgrade and the complexity of application environment, the advantages of plastic optical fiber are becoming more and more obvious:
(1) Optical fiber adopts optical signal transmission, no electromagnetic leakage, light wave can not run out of the optical fiber, no signal leakage, the innate confidentiality characteristics of optical fiber communication are gradually applied to some departments that are more sensitive to data security. For example, the national army, aerospace, research institutes, public security organs, military industries, high-tech R&D units, etc.
(2) Optical fiber communication is not susceptible to external electromagnetic interference EMI and radio frequency interference RFI, data transmission is stable, transmission bandwidth is high, bandwidth upgrade is simple, etc. For some departments that require relatively high data transmission quality and data transmission volume is gradually adopted Recognition and acceptance; such as the transmission of image systems in large hospitals, the transmission of massive pictures and image data in libraries, archives, and survey and design institutes, etc.
(3) The copper cable system has developed from Cat5 to Cat6A, adding a cross frame and a shielding layer (even a double-layer shielding layer) in the structure, and the wire diameter has become larger and larger, which invisibly increases the raw material cost of copper cables, Transportation cost, installation auxiliary material cost, installation construction cost and testing cost, etc. The copper cable system has developed from four test parameters of Cat5 to more than a dozen later, and now there is one more test parameter of alien crosstalk, which makes the acceptance test of Cat6A cabling system more cumbersome and time-consuming. However, with the development of optical fibers, the volume and weight have not changed, and there are generally only two test parameters: "attenuation" and "length". Moreover, with the development of optical communication technology, the cost of raw materials has a downward trend, and the installation and construction have become more and more convenient.
(4) Wide range of ambient temperature; communication is not charged, can be used in flammable and violent places, and is safe to use.
(5) Chemical corrosion resistance and long service life.
(6) Different sheath materials and internal structures can cope with harsh office environments.
(7) Compared with silica fiber, it has better flexibility, is not easy to break, does not require special tools for splicing, and has low cost and other advantages.
It is for these reasons that the application of plastic optical fiber to the desktop FTTD has become a development trend in the future.
