Both fiber optic and copper cables are capable of providing Internet connectivity to homes and businesses. But these days, fiber optic cables seem to be gaining favor in data centers that demand higher speeds. Because optical fibers can provide longer transmission intervals and larger bandwidths, but with the continuous development of Power over Ethernet (POE) technology, and they can provide data and power at the same time, copper cables are used in applications such as IP cameras and indoor networks. still important in the field. So will copper cables be completely replaced by optical fibers in the future?
Optical fiber applications are increasingly common
Since the discovery of the principle of total reflection of light, optical fibers have been regarded as the best transmission medium. An optical fiber is a fiber made of glass or plastic that acts as a means of transmitting light. This enables data or voice signals to travel through the fiber as light beams rather than electrical signals. Thus, fiber optic can provide more integrity data over longer intervals than copper cabling. In addition, the fiber is free from electrical interference, making it safer and more stable. As a result, in the data center room, most connections between servers have been replaced by fiber optic links.
With the rapid development of the "Mobile Upgrade Plan" and "FTTX Plan" in recent years, the global optical fiber industry is developing rapidly, and because the 5G era is coming, the low speed has gradually been unable to meet the daily data transmission needs. At this time, fiber can provide higher speed and less attenuation. It is worth mentioning that fiber has the characteristics of reducing fire risk and being safer. Clearly, fiber optics has greater advantages and will play an undeniable role in the future networked world.
Will copper cables be completely replaced by fiber?
To sum up, in many data center computer rooms, optical fibers have occupied more than half of the transmission market due to the higher requirements for bandwidth. In addition, optical fiber is not subject to electromagnetic interference, and its installation environment requirements are not as complicated as copper cables. Therefore, the optical fiber is easier to install. However, it should be noted that although the price gap between optical fiber and copper cable has been reduced, the overall price of optical fiber cable is higher than that of copper cable. Therefore, optical fibers are commonly used in environments that require higher bandwidth.
Optical fiber application field
On the other hand, copper cables are less expensive. Optical fiber is a special type of glass fiber that is more fragile than copper cable. Therefore, the daily maintenance cost of copper cable is much lower than that of fiber optic cable. It also provides compatibility with older 10/100Mbps legacy Ethernet equipment. Therefore, copper cables are still used in voice transmission and indoor networking applications. Additionally, horizontal cabling, Power over Ethernet (POE) or IoT applications are driving the adoption of copper cabling. Therefore, fiber optics will not completely replace copper cables. In fact, fiber and copper disposal options will co-exist for the foreseeable future, and each solution will be used where it makes the most sense.
