The term 'optical fiber communication' refers to a communication technique in which a signal is transmitted as light, with optical fiber serving as the medium for moving those light signals from one location to another. A signal transmitted through an optical fiber is transformed from an electrical signal into light, which is then converted back into an electrical signal at the receiving end. Optical fiber communication has been applied for a variety of telecommunication needs because it performs well in long-distance and high-speed data transfer.
How does Fiber Optic Communication work?
Now let’s understand how optical Fiber Communication works with an example:
Imagine
you're
at a crowded business event and you want to have a conversation with someone on the
other side of the
room. You could try shouting to be heard over the noise, but that would be inefficient
and could easily
get drowned out. Instead, you decide to use a laser pointer to communicate.
You shine
the laser
pointer across the room, and the person on the other side sees the beam and understands
that you want to
talk. They then shine their own laser pointer back to you, creating a two-way
communication
channel.
This is similar to how optical fiber communication works. Instead of using
sound
waves like shouting, information is transmitted as light waves through a fiber optic
cable. By using the
principle of total internal reflection, the optical fiber serves as a waveguide and
transfers the
optical pulses in the receiver's direction. The optical pulses are received by the light
detector, which
then converts them into electrical pulses that are amplified and decoded by the
associated
equipment.
Simply put, the cable acts like a laser pointer, guiding the light waves
to their
destination without interference or loss of information.
The speed and efficiency of
optical fiber
communication make it ideal for transmitting large amounts of data over long distances,
such as in
telecommunications, internet connectivity, and scientific research. It's like having a
super-powered
laser pointer that can send information across the world in a matter of seconds.
Why are optical fibers ideal for high-speed communication?
Optical
fibers are ideal for high-speed
communication because they use light to transmit information, which can travel at an
incredibly fast
speed.
To understand this, let's compare optical fibers to traditional copper wires.
Copper wires
transmit information using electrical signals, which move relatively slowly. In
contrast, optical fibers
use lasers to transmit the information as pulses of light that travel at the speed of
light, which is on
the order of 100 times faster than electrical signals.
In addition, optical fibers
are also immune to
electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI), which can
disrupt or degrade
electrical signals. This means that optical fibers can transmit data more reliably and
with less noise
than copper wires.
Lastly, the power consumption is significantly less for optical
fiber
communication than that of electrical. The medium (i.e. the fiber) poses very little
resistance to the
transmittance of light, whereas resistance is inherent to the transmittance of
electrical signals
regardless of how conductive the metallic conductor is. An estimate has the energy consumption
of up to 12 times less in favor of
fiber optic communication.
Overall, the speed, reliability, and efficiency of optical
fibers make
them an ideal choice for high-speed communication, such as internet connections, video
conferencing,
phone lines, and cable television.
Characteristics of Fiber Optic Communication
The major characteristics of optical fibers include:
Wide bandwidth:
Because optical frequencies generally offer larger bandwidths, fiber systems have more capacity. The capacitance between and inductance along the conductors are characteristics of metallic cables. They act as low pass filters due to these characteristics, which restrict their transmission frequencies and consequently wider bandwidths.
Low attenuation:
Optical fibers experience much less signal loss over long distances than copper cables, which means they can transmit signals over much longer distances without the need for signal boosters.
Immunity to electromagnetic interference:
Unlike copper cables, optical fibers are not affected by electromagnetic interference, which makes them ideal for use in areas where there are high levels of electromagnetic interference.
Lightweight and smaller size:
The size and weight of fibers are significantly smaller than those of their metallic counterparts. Fiber optic cables are easier to transport and take up less space in storage. Moreover, these are easy to install and less obtrusive.
Lower cost:
Given the rising price and high energy consumption of copper , fiber optic systems are expected to be less expensive over the long term than their metallic brethren.
Enhanced security:
Data is secure over optical fiber networks due to optical encryption, the absence of any electromagnetic signal, and the difficulty of tapping optical fibers.
Durability and Longevity:
Optical fibers are very durable and can withstand harsh environments, making them suitable for use in industrial or outdoor settings. Apart from that, optical fibers have been engineered for a long lifespan with fibers capable of lasting well over 25 years without the need for replacement.
Applications of Optical Fiber
The use of optical fibers is not limited to optical fiber communication. There are many applications of optical fibers including:
Medical sector:
Due to its flexibility and thinness, it is used in several instruments to view internal body parts by slipping into hollow body cavities.
Telecommunication:
Because optical fiber cables are used for both transmission and reception, they are crucial to the operation of global telecommunication systems. It can be used in many networking applications to increase speed and accuracy.
Defense:
Fiber optics are used to transmit data in the high-security military and aerospace applications. This material is used in aviation wiring as well as hydrophones for SONAR and seismic purposes.
Broadcasting:
High-speed, high-bandwidth HDTV signals are transmitted over such cables. Fiber optic cable costs less than the same number of copper cables. These fibers are used by broadcasters to facilitate the connection for HDTV, CATV, VOD, and other services.
Wrapping Up
Fiber optics communication is not new, the first commercial long-distance fiber optic
link was
deployed 40 years ago.However, it’s only recently that it has become pertinent in
everyone’s day-to-day
life. As businesses look to reduce time to market and scale up operations, faster and
more reliable
connectivity can have a big impact. Enterprises all over the world are utilizing high
fiber-optic
bandwidth to increase productivity, improve communications, and enhance the productivity
of cloud-based,
data-intensive applications. Individuals all over the world are using high-speed,
fiber-enabled
connections for work, learning, connection and entertainment.
According to a report,
India's market
for optical fiber and accessories, which was valued at $461.6 million in 2018, is
anticipated to grow at
a CAGR of 17.2% from 2019 to 2026, reaching $1.66 billion.
We, at HFCL, have
consistently implemented cutting-edge technology with our
end-to-end digital network offerings, enabling high-speed and secure voice and data
transmission for
telcos, defense, and railways globally.
We offer advanced optical fiber solutions
that have been
developed by our robust, in-house Research and Development team. We have successfully
developed optical
fiber cables with fiber counts up to 1728. In addition to this continued success of
increasing fiber
counts, we are rapidly expanding and diversifying our portfolio into new markets and new
applications.