Lemberg Blog

Understanding Fiber Optic Cabling: Your Questions Answered

Written by Ernie Garza | Oct 3, 2024

Fiber optic cabling is the backbone of today’s digital world. It provides the speed, bandwidth, and reliability modern businesses demand. Whether it’s used for data, voice, or video transmission, fiber optics are a game changer for companies looking to future-proof their network infrastructure.

At Lemberg Electric, we’ve helped businesses across the Milwaukee area install reliable fiber optic systems, and we’re here to guide you through the essentials of fiber optic technology—from how it works to its installation process.

Let’s start with the basics: What exactly IS a fiber optic cable….

What Is Fiber Optic Cabling?

Fiber optic cabling consists of extremely thin glass or plastic strands, called fibers, bundled together under a protective casing. Each strand is about the thickness of a human hair, yet it can carry vast amounts of data over long distances using light. Fiber optic cabling is the behind-the-scenes conduit that supports daily activities, including point-of-sale transactions, surveillance, medical imaging, computer networking, and much more.

How Does Fiber Optic Cabling Work?

Unlike traditional copper cabling, which transmits data through electrical signals, fiber optic cables use light pulses to carry information from one end to the other. These light pulses travel through the transparent glass fibers, which are enclosed in a mirrored cladding that reflects light back into the core, ensuring smooth transmission. The outer protective coating shields the cable from environmental damage, such as moisture and heat. This design allows fiber optic cables to carry signals much farther than copper cables without losing speed or signal quality.

What Is True Redundancy in Fiber Optic Cabling?

True redundancy in fiber optic cabling refers to the implementation of multiple, independent pathways for data transmission. This ensures that if one cable or pathway is damaged or fails, data can still be transmitted through an alternate route without any service disruption.

True redundancy minimizes downtime and enhances network reliability by providing continuous operation in case of unexpected failure. It’s crucial in environments where uninterrupted service is essential, such as hospitals, financial institutions, and data centers.

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What are the Key Benefits of Fiber Optics vs. Copper Cable?

Beyond providing reliable and uninterrupted data transmission, fiber optic cabling offers several important advantages over traditional options like copper cabling, including:

  • Speed: Fiber optics can transmit data much faster than traditional copper wiring, often reaching up to 100 Gbps or more.
  • Bandwidth: The bandwidth capabilities of fiber optic cables far exceed those of copper cables, making them ideal for modern high-demand applications like video streaming, cloud computing, and large-scale data transfers.
  • Distance: Fiber optic cables can carry signals for much greater distances without degradation, unlike copper cables, which experience signal loss over long distances.
  • Interference Resistance: Fiber optic cables are immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI), ensuring a clear and reliable signal even in environments with heavy electronic interference.

What Is the Fiber Optic Installation Process?

The use of the fiber optics determine the cable -- larger core, multi-mode fiber optics are used for shorter distances, generally within a building; and smaller core, single-mode fiber with a larger cladding is used for longer distances, typically outdoors between buildings.

Fiber optic installation typically involves the following steps:

  • Planning and Design: To determine the best layout for the fiber optic network, a thorough assessment of the installation site is performed. This includes mapping the path, identifying the required components, and ensuring compatibility with existing infrastructure.
  • Cable Laying: Once the plan is finalized, fiber optic cables are carefully laid out. Depending on the location, this may involve running cables underground, along walls, or through conduits in existing buildings.
  • Splicing and Termination: Fiber optic cables are joined together using a process called splicing, which ensures a continuous path for the light signals. Proper termination is also critical, ensuring that the fiber ends are securely connected to network equipment.
  • Testing and Validation: After installation, testing is performed to ensure the integrity of the fiber optic cabling. This step guarantees the network will perform as expected without signal loss or interference.

Want to learn more about fiber optic cabling and data communication construction? Download our guide!

What Are the Challenges of Fiber Optic Technology?

Fiber optic technology is sensitive, so environmental factors such as moisture, tension, heat, chemicals, flexibility, and nature must be considered during cable installation. Fiber optics can also be more expensive per foot compared to traditional cabling. However, since fiber optics can carry more signals at a farther distance, the expense is offset by the decrease in the number of repeaters needed.

Who Installs Fiber Optic Cabling?

Fiber optic cabling is typically installed by certified professionals who specialize in network infrastructure, such as licensed electricians or data communication experts. These experts are trained to handle the delicate fibers, ensure proper cable splicing, and test the network to guarantee performance.

Choosing an experienced company like Lemberg Electric ensures a seamless installation. With extensive experience in fiber optic installations for businesses of all sizes in the Milwaukee area, our team designs scalable, fast, and reliable networks tailored to meet your unique needs.

If you’re ready to future-proof your network with fiber optics, Lemberg Electric is here to help.

Contact us today to discuss your project.