Ethernet vs.

Fiber -- Everything You Need to Know - BusinessBee

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Emai l
Et her net Cabl e
Developed by Xerox in
the early 1970s,
Ethernet was introduced
commercially in 1980.
Ethernet is a popular method of networking
computers in a local area networks (LANs)
using copper cabling. In the past, Ethernet
had a reputation for being slower than fiber
optic cable, but that has started to change.
Opt i c al Fi ber Cabl e
The principle behind
fiber optics dates back
to the mid 1800s.
Through the years, fiber
optic technology has been used in a
number of applications, including in the
television cameras that NASA sent to the
moon in 1969. Today, optical fiber cables
used for Internet are synonymous with
Ethernet vs. Fiber Everything You Need to
Know
ALEXIA CHIANIS | October 4, 2013
Whether youre running a local family
business, or need to be connected to
customers around the world, having fast,
reliable, and secure Internet is essential to
operational success.
But as a small business owner, chances
are you dont have the benefit of IT gurus
to help you understand the pros and cons
of popular connection options like fiber
optic cable and copper Ethernet cable.
So were going to give you the background and basics on both, and then put them head-to-
head in five BuzzBattle rounds to help you decide which fits your companys needs best:
Ethernet cable or fiber optic cable.
Background and the Basics
Home / Daily Buzz / Et her net vs. Fi ber Ever yt hi ng You Need t o Know
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Ethernet vs. Fiber -- Everything You Need to Know - BusinessBee
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Most Popular Buzz Ethernet speed was once limited to 10
megabits per second (Mbps). However,
Fast Ethernet offers speeds of up to
100Mbps, and Gigabit Ethernet can
provide speeds of up to 1000Mbps.
Due to our ever increasing demand for
speed, gigabit Ethernet is emerging as the
go-to Ethernet option. Its cables are
comprised of multiple strands of copper wire
that are twisted together, with four twisted
wire pairs per cable. Two of the pairs are
used to send data, and the other two are
used to receive data. Data is transmitted
via electrical signals sent through copper
cabling. Cat 5e and Cat 6 cables are
designed for high speed gigabit Ethernet.
speed, and are especially useful when
transferring data over long distances.
The cable is made up of strands of
incredibly thin optically pure glass that carry
digital information with light instead of
electrical currents used with Ethernet. There
are two basic types of fiber optic cable:
single-mode and multi-mode. Single-mode
fiber cables use laser light to send signals,
and they are thinner than multi-mode fiber
cables. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are
used to send signals in multi-mode fiber
cables, and multi-mode cables are usually
used over short distances. Data transfer
rates between 10 Mbps to 10 gigabytes per
second (Gbps) are the norm.
Ethernet cables are
vulnerable to
electromagnetic
interference because
they work through
electrical signals.
However, using a shielded cable can help
minimize this problem. A shield is a
protective sheath that surrounds and
protects the cable wires from
electromagnetic leakage and
interference. Although not always
necessary, shielded cable is the preferred
choice if youre working close to strong
electrical interference such as that
produced by a generator.
Because optical fiber
cables work through the
transmission of light,
interference from
electronic devices isnt a
concern. Additionally,
since they dont conduct electricity, fiber
optic cables are ideal for high voltage
locations, in buildings prone to lightening
strikes, and locations where explosive
fumes are present.
Due to the way in which
data is transmitted
across Ethernet copper
cabling, it is vulnerable
to being intercepted.
Ethernet switches can
help improve security.
Information sent via
fiber optic cables is
much more difficult to
intercept because light
cant be read in the
same way signals sent
via copper cabling can be.
Until recently, fiber
Internet-optic cable
speed would almost
Typically, optical fiber
transmits data faster
than copper Ethernet
Round One: Interference
Round Two: Security
Round Three: Speed
Cable Blowing
Machines
fokmachine.com
Fiber optic cable blowing
machines Micro fiber, Mini Fiber
optic cable
Mode Multiplexer
cailabs.com
Increase fiber capacity limit Low
loss and high mode selectivity
Ethernet vs. Fiber -- Everything You Need to Know - BusinessBee
http://www.businessbee.com/resources/news/operations-buzz/buzzbattle-ethernet-vs-fiber-basics/[8/27/2014 10:30:23 AM]
always beat Ethernet
cable speed. But as the
technology behind
Ethernet cables has advanced, Ethernet
cables can provide speeds as fast as some
fiber optic cables. As mentioned, gigabit
Ethernet can provide data transfer speeds
of up to 1000Mbps, but through the use of
Cat 6 cables it can support data transfer
rates of up to 10Gbps.
cable and has the
potential to be incredibly
fast. In fact, a single
optical fiber strand has been shown to
transmit data at a rate of 100 terabits per
second.
Although the voltage
used by Ethernet cable
is usually insufficient to
cause a fire, there is
always electricity
present in Ethernet
cables.
Unlike Ethernet cable,
optical fiber cable is
non-flammable because
it does not use
electricity.
Round Four: Fire Threat
Round Five: Capacity and Bandwidth
Copper cabling strands are thicker than optical fiber strands, so less wires can be bundled in
a 22 gauge copper cable than in a 22 gauge optical fiber cable. Additionally, Ethernet offers
less bandwidth. For example, a Cat 6a cable can relay 600 MHz over 100 m, but a multi-
mode optical fiber cable can relay 1000 MHz over the same distance.
Rel at ed: 3 Companies Offering the Ultimate Brand Experience
Weve provided you with the very basics about Ethernet and fiber optic cables. If youre
ready to learn more, use our comparative guide to find the best business Internet provider to
suit your needs.
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Al ex i a Chi ani s
From developing websites to processing payroll, Alexia knows firsthand the demands
entrepreneurs face. Shes owned several small businesses and won an international
competition for a business plan she wrote. When shes not hard at work in the office, shes
watching old movies or crafting with her two daughters.
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Ethernet vs. Fiber -- Everything You Need to Know - BusinessBee
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4 comments
Top comments
Aar on Gunder son 10 months ago - Shared publicly

Thanks for putting this comparison together... Good stuff!
1 Reply
Chr i st i an de l a Pea 2 months ago - Shared publicly

Ethernet is a layer 2 protocol. The title should be copper vs fiber. I have tons
of Ethernet ports that run on optical cabling.
1 Reply
J ak e For r est er 4 months ago - Shared publicly

Don't forget flexability! Copper wires do better than fiber at really only two
things: 1) Cost, and 2) Being shaken. Fiber strands can break pretty easily,
but during a giant earthquake or a technician tripping on the cables, CAT5/6
cables will hold up better.
+

1

1 Reply
Br et t Phar i s shared this via Google+ 10 months ago - Shared publicly
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