Networks that require longer distances and higher bandwidth than copper cabling can provide are candidates for fiber-optic cabling. Fiber-optic cables have two advantages over copper twisted-pair cables: range and bandwidth.
The maximum range on fiber-optic lines is around 20 km, whereas the maximum range for copper twisted-pair cables is, by standard, 100 meters or less. Bandwidth is another area in which fiber-optic cable surpasses copper. There are fiber-optic cables with bandwidth ratings of up to 60 Tbps, but fiber-optic network cabling is generally in the 10 Gbps to 100 Gbps range.
The following table summarizes the capability differences between fiber-optic and copper twisted-pair cabling:
|
Characteristic |
Fiber-optic cable |
Twisted-pair cable |
|
Maximum bandwidth |
60 Tbps |
10 Gbps |
|
Maximum range |
20 Km |
90 m |
|
Interference |
N/A |
EMI... |
