5 Times When Fiber is Preferable to Copper Cabling - Equal Optics

Network connections can be made with either fiber optic or copper cable. Which one offers the best choice for your network? While both can be used, there are several situations where fiber optic offers improved bandwidth and other benefits. Review the key differences between fiber vs. copper and discover five times when fiber optic cabling offers significant advantages to copper cabling in your organization.

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Fiber vs. Copper: What’s the Difference?

Both fiber and copper transmit data. There are, however, differences not only in their data transmission abilities but also in their method of transmission. Comparing the manufacturing method and transmission type of fiber vs. copper can help you understand the situations when fiber is preferable to copper cabling.

Fiber Optic

Glass strands, which are extremely pure and about as thick as human hair, are assembled in thin bundles. These fibers transmit data through infrared light pulses and optical transceivers. Compared to copper cabling, fiber optic offers the following benefits:

• Symmetrical bandwidth: Fiber optic allows for equal speeds between uploading and downloading.
• Rapid data transmission: Thanks to the photon-based data transmission style of fiber, it transfers more bits per second than copper.
• Flexible installation: While fiber cabling needs to be treated with care to avoid breaking the thin glass strands, it’s generally more flexible than copper. This allows it to weave its way in between equipment and other cables in space-restricted situations.

Copper Cable

The legacy cable choice was originally used to transmit voice call data. Copper wires send and receive signals through electrical transmission. Some companies choose to stay with copper because it easily connects with legacy equipment, while fiber optic cabling may require some additional upgrades and installation steps.

Depending on your current networking system, copper cable may be easier to install. Legacy systems work with legacy cabling, so simply choosing copper prevents you from needing to update equipment or find ways to connect newer fiber optic cables to older systems.

When is Fiber Preferable to Copper Cabling?

If you’re looking to increase your bandwidth and elevate your network, then it’s time to consider fiber vs. copper. Fiber optic installation may have a higher upfront investment, but the total cost of ownership is lower due to its longevity and future-proof technology. Explore the top five times when switching to fiber is a better option than using copper cabling for your networking goals.

1. Transmitting Over Long Distances

One major factor to consider when comparing copper vs. fiber is connection lengths. Transmitting data within a small data center is possible with copper cable, but these cables can’t span distances greater than 300 feet due to governing standards. Copper experiences a 94% signal loss past this point, which makes it no longer useful in transferring significant amounts of data.

Compare that distance with fiber optic, which can be used in distances over 24 miles, depending on the cable features and signaling. Any long-range connections need to use fiber to ensure reliable and rapid data transmission.

2. Making Connections in Tight Spaces

The thin, lightweight fiber cables make them a better option for confined spaces. When installing copper cables, you need to be cautious of the physical dimensions of the area. These thicker cables can be damaged with improper installation, so the paths need to be more carefully considered.

For example, copper cabling can be compromised due to pull pressure. Both types of cable can be damaged when bent, but copper’s thicker, heavier design makes it more difficult to work with in small spaces or unusual connection routes.

3. Preparing for Future Bandwidth Requirements

Another consideration when installing fiber vs. copper is the amount of bandwidth you’ll need in the future. Bandwidth usage continues to grow year after year. Unless you expect your organization’s networking needs to shrink in the future, you need to plan for an increase in bandwidth requirements over the years. One way to do this is to invest in new equipment, but your copper cabling may be holding back your network.

While copper offers speeds up to 10 Gbps, fiber can be used to transmit data at faster speeds. Fiber optics can be used to transfer data at speeds over 1,000 Mbps. In theory, fiber optic cables allow data to transfer at speeds only 31% slower than the speed of light, so innovations in transceivers and overall systems can dramatically increase bandwidth capabilities without replacing fiber optic cables.

4. Investing in Long-Term Solutions

When comparing fiber vs. copper, consider fiber if you’re looking for the best purchase in terms of total cost of ownership. Fiber cabling can be more expensive initially, particularly if you need to update some of your equipment to accommodate the transfer. Due to the improved durability, flexibility, and design of fiber optics, however, it’s less likely to need to be replaced due to damage or outdated design.

5. Operating Near External Interference

Interference from outside sources is a serious concern for copper cables. This legacy cable option can’t be used in areas prone to electromagnetic interference. Copper cable can not be compromised by accidental interference, but its electromagnetic radiation can be decoded from external sources, creating a networking security risk.

As you review the security of copper cable vs. fiber optic cable, it’s important to also consider the fire safety of both cables. Worn-out copper cabling can have compromised sheathing, which creates a fire hazard as electric signals are sent along the copper wire. Fiber optic cable may not efficiently send signals if damaged, but the light transmitting through the strands doesn’t pose a fire hazard.

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Learn More About the Benefits of Fiber Optic Cabling

If you’re ready to choose fiber vs. copper to update your network, then it’s time to turn to Equal Optics. While fiber optic may be an upfront investment, this cabling is a clear winner in these five situations your organization may face. Contact us to learn more about fiber optic solutions for your specific industry. From lengths of cable to optical transceivers, we offer the products and expertise you need to move forward with innovative networking possibilities.

Sources:

https://www.atlantech.net/blog/bandwidth-fiber-vs.-copper-which-is-the-clear-winner

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/difference-between-fiber-optic-cable-and-copper-wire/

https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/tech-takes/top-10-advantages-fiber-optic-internet-connections

https://business.comcast.com/community/browse-all/details/fiber-copper-or-wireless-which-connection-is-best-for-your-company

Considering dark fiber for your data center? It can be a great solution, but it’s not right for every circumstance. Here are some facts and considerations when considering building a dark fiber network. 

1. What is dark fiber?

“Dark fiber” refers to unused fiber optical cables. These cables are installed, configured, and ready to use, but they’re not yet connected to anything. They will remain “dark” until they’re connected to electronic equipment and “lit” (activated) for transmissions. 

2. Why do data centers use dark fiber?

Dark fiber is often kept in reserve so data centers can expand their networks quickly. Rather than installing new cables each time bandwidth demand grows, data centers can install many fibers simultaneously and then switch them on as needed. 

3. What are the most common applications of dark fiber in data centers?

There are several reasons a data center might choose to use dark fiber, but these are the main ones:

• Cloud services – Cloud services have peaks and valleys of usage during different times of the year. Data centers with dark fiber on standby can activate them during periods of high demand.

• Interconnecting facilities – Dark fiber can create high-speed networks that connect multiple locations for fast communication and data transfer.

• Edge computing – For edge nodes to communicate seamlessly, they must have a means of rapid and reliable data transfer. Dark fiber is a great way to accomplish this. 

4. What’s the advantage of keeping dark fiber on hand?

• Cost efficiency and scalability – If a data center wants to increase bandwidth, it usually has two options: either purchase and install new fiber optic cables for each expansion or lease extra bandwidth from network providers.Frequent installations of network cables are costly, and they can disrupt service for a time. Leasing extra bandwidth can also be expensive, especially if the expansion is permanent.Dark fiber offers a less expensive way for data centers to expand bandwidth as demand grows.

• Control – Dark fiber is controlled by the data center rather than the service provider, meaning the data center can choose its equipment and activate or deactivate cables as needed.

• Security – Since dark fiber doesn’t actively transmit data, it’s more difficult for unauthorized users to find and tap into live connections. Additionally, data centers have full control over their cable infrastructure, which makes it more difficult for potential hackers to tamper with equipment. 

5. Which industries often use dark fiber?

Some industries have stronger use cases for dark fiber than others. The following are especially suited for using dark fiber.

• High-bandwidth industries – Cloud computing platforms and generalized data centers both tend to regularly encounter increased demand for bandwidth.

• High-security industries – Dark fiber networks are privately owned and operated on the grounds of the data center, so they are great for sensitive industries such as healthcare, defense, and financial services. Private fiber connections are far more difficult to intercept than the typical shared, commercial internet service.

• Businesses requiring low latency – When circumstances call for fast data transmission—think financial trading platforms, online games, and real-time data processors—dark fiber is a wonderful choice. Data centers can optimize connections for rapid transfer speeds and minimal latency.

• Large-scale retailers and e-commerce businesses – Retailers can use dark fiber to maintain fast and secure connections between their network of warehouses, distribution centers, retail locations, and central offices.

• Government and educational institutions – These organizations often require fast, secure, private, and extensive networks to perform optimally. This makes dark fiber a superior solution to commercial internet connections.

• Critical industries that need physical redundancy – Disaster recovery is crucial for some organizations, including healthcare facilities, financial institutions, and any companies that provide critical infrastructure or services that can’t be interrupted.Dark fiber offers these organizations a physical network that could be used as a backup if the primary system ever goes down.

• Organizations that use edge computing – As edge computing becomes more popular, the demand for low-latency data transfers between multiple nodes grows proportionally. Smart city initiatives, IoT, and autonomous vehicle systems are a few examples of industries where dark fiber shines. 

6. What are the challenges of using dark fiber?

While dark fiber can be an excellent choice, it’s a solution with some challenges. 

• Cost – Installing dark fiber requires a considerable up-front cost. Most data centers need to lease fiber optic cables rather than purchasing them outright. They will also need to purchase and install equipment to connect to both ends of the fiber cables.If the data center never ends up activating those fibers and they lie dormant, the ROI may never be realized.

• Maintenance – Since data centers control their fiber networks, there is no ISP to dispatch technicians to keep the network in good condition. This means maintenance tasks and costs all fall on the data center.This can be troublesome for smaller facilities without a lot of experience or resources because fiber optic cable installation and maintenance require some technical expertise and training.

• Limited availability – Facilities in rural areas—especially in remote locations—will have fewer options for installing a dark fiber network.

• Bureaucracy – Getting a fiber network approved may require the permission of multiple entities, including service providers and governmental permit agencies. Navigating this labyrinth can be costly and time-consuming.

• Complex design and engineering processes – Putting together an efficient dark fiber network isn’t a simple task. Designers and engineers may have to contend with overlapping networks, physically separate pathways, rocky or otherwise difficult terrain, and the prospect of building redundancy and diversity in cable routes.

• Limitations in scalability – Because scalability is often a major point of dark fiber networks, it might seem counterintuitive to think that dark fiber itself can constrain scalability.However, the goal of dark fiber is that a data center pays for a large cable installation once—and should be able to go a long time before needing to install more. This means that the ultimate    scalability of an organization’s network comes down to how the original project was planned and implemented. Adding onto the infrastructure down the line if further capacity is needed defeats the purpose and can increase costs and downtime.

7. What is the future potential for dark fiber?

Despite the above-mentioned challenges, dark fiber helps to future-proof a data center. Data centers almost always encounter periods of rapid growth due to newly emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and IoT, and they’ll almost certainly experience the same type of challenges from technologies that haven’t hit the mainstream yet. In the data center industry, expansion is just part of the job. 

Laying some extra cables in the form of dark fiber means data centers can plan ahead of demand surges and rise to the occasion in a quick and relatively cost-effective manner.  

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