Fiber optic cables, the ingenious cables we rely on to deliver the Internet, are incredibly powerful when it comes to carrying data over long distances. Made from thin strands of glass fibers or plastic fibers, fiber optic cables work by projecting light toward one end and then bouncing it back along the cable via the outer covering. This is called “total internal reflection,” which relies on light not being absorbed by said coating, allowing data to travel even further. Once you arrive at your destination, it is up to the optical receiver to decode it.
The optical receiver captures the light projected in the cables and returns it to its starting point: in the form of electrical signals. Your computer, phone, or TV then receives these signals over your Internet network, which translates them into information that the end device can read. Data loss can still occur, especially over long distances.
Fiber optic cables aren’t just the latest upgrade path offered by your Internet service provider. Surprisingly, they have been around since the 1950s. They became big later when companies like AT&T started installing fiber optics for infrastructure in the 1980s. Believe it or not, these cables are sometimes bitten by sharks.
Fiber optic cables are the backbone of modern society
Fiber optic cables have not changed dramatically in the years since their introduction. Density and coating modifications to reduce data loss have been developed, but the basic concept behind the technology has not changed much. A new iteration of the technology includes “hollow” cables, capable of transmitting more data per strand of glass. By implementing hollow fibers, researchers found that light travels 50% faster, reducing latency and increasing speeds.
Various technology organizations have worked to push fiber optics to its limits. Currently, the world record is set at 1.02 petabits per second. This was carried out by Japanese scientists, who were studying future advances that could be made in long-distance communications.
Fiber optics was promised as a radical solution for rural areas across America. While Starlink — which some claim is better than home Internet — provides wireless satellite Internet access, its speeds pale in comparison to a full fiber optic stack that pumps Internet into a location. Unfortunately, despite the billions awarded to telecommunications companies, little work has been done to ensure that every citizen has the best possible connection.
