What are optical fibers ?

It is thin strands of pure glass which carry data over long distances. At very high speeds. The Fiber can be bent or twisted. Fibers are used instead of metal wires because signals travel without loss. Also, fibers are immune to the electromagnetic interference.

In an general optic fiber there is a core which is surrounded by cladding material which has lower refraction index than core.

Communication Systems

Basic Blocks

• Transmitter : transmitter is one of the key elements of any fiber optic communications system and the choice of the correct one will depend upon the particular application that is envisaged.
• Communication channel (medium) : A fiber-optic link (or fiber channel) is usually a part of an optical fiber communications system which provides a data connection between two points.

• Destinations and Receiver : Fiber optic receivers convert light signals into electrical signals for use by equipment such as computer networks.

Advantages of optical fibers

• Can carry much more information
• Easily available & cheaper
• Much longer distances than co-axial cables
• Immune to electromagnetic noise
• Light in weight
• Unaffected by atmospheric agents
• Longer life Not hazardous

Disadvantages of Optical fibers

• Expensive to install
• They have to be installed by specialists
• More costly to repair
• Can only be used on ground
• The distance between transmitter and
• Receiver should keep short