You call or video chat with someone on the other side of the world in real time. Just a few taps on your phone and you get connected in an instant. But have you ever wondered how it’s been done? If you have, then stop wondering and learn what is a fiber optic cable.
On land, you find them running underground, connecting cities and towns, and across oceans, they lie on the sea floor as huge submarine cables linking continents. In terms of bandwidth and data carrying, they are advanced performers and the backbone of communication.
In this article, we will be answering a few questions, including what is a fiber optic cable, what materials are fiber optic cables made of, and how do fiber optic cables work.
What is a Fiber Optic Cable?
Fiber optic cable is a network cable that holds one or more optical fibers inside multiple protective layers. These thin strands are made of glass or plastic to carry information as light signals.
- The core part, the innermost layer of the cable, is made of pure glass that reflects light (some cables’ core is made of fully reflective plastic to carry data over a short distance). This allows the signal to travel with minimal loss.
- The cladding is made of glass or plastic, and it surrounds the core. It keeps light signals inside the core and sees whether they travel smoothly from one end of the optical fiber to another.
- Next, the coating, the buffer layer, surrounds the cladding from environmental hazards like air, moisture, and other toxic contaminants.
When these layers work together, the light moves through the cable with very little loss or interference, where at the end of the cable, the receiver picks up the light signal and converts it to usable data.
Amazing right? But what’s the history behind these fiber optic cables, and who invented fiber optic cable?
In 1952, a UK-based physicist, Narinder Singh Kapany, invented the 1st actual fiber-optic cable based on John Tyndall’s experiments that were done 3 decades ago. Then in 1970, a team of researchers, Robert Muarer, Donald Keek, and Peter Schultz at Corning Glass developed the 1st low-loss optical fiber.
How do Fiber Optic Cables Work?
Optical fibers rely on several key parts to carry data.
- Light source: A tiny laser or LED creates light pulses by receiving input signals from the optical transmitter circuitry, and this light carries the data through the cable.
- Core & Cladding: The glass fibers are wrapped by the cladding layer that has a different refractive index from the core. This difference allows the light to bend and reflect into the core as it travels. This keeps the light signals trapped inside the fiber, allowing them to move down the entire length of the cable.
- Repeaters: Due to the cable’s reflective design, the light rays stay trapped inside the fiber. They bounce in a zig-zag pattern, letting them move around the bends and along the full length of the cable. The repeaters convert the light into electrical signals and back into light, maintaining its strength over long distances.
With the help of these components, light signals move fast through the cable, carrying data over long distances until they reach the receivers at the other end. There, special equipment converts the light signals back into the original data or communication messages.
Types of fiber optic cables
Fiber optic cables are divided into two types;
Single Mode Fiber Optic Cable (SMF)
Single-mode fiber optic cable has a 9-micron core (which is comparatively larger) that lets data transmit farther. It handles multiple wavelengths to hook up more gadgets on the same line. Using transceivers, they transmit data over a longer distance.
Multi-Mode Fiber Optic Cable (MMF)
Multi-mode fiber optic cables have a 62.5 micron core. This doesn’t work for longer distances. They use LED transceivers that limit the distance the data travels. It’s best for connecting devices in a limited space and transmitting data over short distances.
Applications of Fiber Optic Cables
Fiber optic cables pop up everywhere – powering the internet, broadband, phone lines, and networks. They don’t stop there! They also work in homes and offices, brightening up spaces with lighting and interior decor. They also tackle everything from medical procedures to mechanical fields and hard-to-reach places.
Internet
Fiber optic cables have become the backbone of worldwide internet connectivity. From your everyday downloads and video streams to file sharing and data transfers, these cables keep everything smooth. They come with more bandwidth and supercharged speeds supporting faster downloads, reliable connections, and a better experience when working, gaming, or watching.
It is safe in high-voltage spots, and so it has become a top choice for the internet with rock-solid performance and safety.
Computer Networks
You might have seen universities, schools, business premises, and industrial plants with devices connected. Communication is done using fiber optics.
Medical Fields
Optical fibres have a special place in the medical field. They help doctors to explore those nooks and crannies inside the body and shine as a much-needed light. Moreover, these cables are completely safe inside a human body. For example, in endoscopy, the fiber optic cables light up inside the body, and the doctors work on tiny incisions. They are great for accuracy, less pain, faster healing, and more comfort.
Automotive industry
Fibre optic cables drive some of the coolest innovations inside your vehicle. This is because they transmit ‘cold’ light that helps stay cool and prevents fire risk. With these cables, designers get a more creative freedom to build high-performance lighting, even in the tightest corners of a car’s body.
They also work in systems like traction control and airbags. Fibre optics makes ultra-fast communication between different parts of the car possible, ensuring everything reacts exactly when it should.
Lighting and Decorations
They light underwater spaces such as fountains or swimming pools without carrying any electrical current. Moreover, they transmit LED lighting in remote and dry places, while focusing on extremely small areas that are hard to reach.
The Right Cable for the Right Job
Picking the right fiber optic cable is important for performance, safety, and long-term reliability. Zable Cable specializes in offering industrial-scale wholesale fiber that’s perfect for infrastructure builds across utilities, data centers, mining, telecom, and more.
We offer
- All-Dielectric Self-Supporting Aerial Cable — no metal parts, ideal for overhead runs.
- Optical Fiber Composite Overhead Phase Conductor (OPPC) — combines power transmission and data in one cable.
- Stranded Loose Tube Armored Cable — durable enough for ducts, aerial deployment, or direct burial.
- Unitube Flame‑Retardant Mining Cable — safe and reliable in aggressive mining environments.
- Multi‑Purpose Distribution Cable — perfect for clean indoor use, using low‑smoke, zero‑halogen jackets.
Now that you’ve learned what is a fiber optic cable and what is fiber optic cable made of, it’s time to find the perfect fiber optic cable for your project. Get in touch with Zable Cable today and let their experts help you build a network that’s fast, reliable, and built to last.
