'Copper Versus Optic Fiber'

A report says that copper cabling, which accounted for 76.8% of the total market in 2009, would account for 79.1% of the total market in 2014. While fiber cabling will continue to make inroads into the data center cabling market, copper cabling will also be used extensively in the future VoIP systems. Copper and optic fiber cables both have unique characteristics. They are critical components in a reliable IT system. Both the cables provide point-to-point communications as against the third medium, wireless. Both the media uses fire safe material for in-house use. Copper cables are dominant in India and fiber has a long way to go, yet optic fiber cable has an edge over copper cables.

The rapid development of broadband, technological innovations, and Ethernet makes a great deal for fiber optic adoption. Fiber cables are being used for long distance installations. Bandwidth delivered via fiber cable is high when compared to copper. Optical fiber cables are not affected by electro magnetic interference, and hence the flow of data is much faster without any loss. Fiber transmits data much faster over longer distances than copper. Because light is transmitted at a much higher frequency, fiber optic data cabling offers a greater signal capacity. Fiber optic cabling uses less power and provides less signal degradation than copper cables. Fiber cables are generally non-flammable and virtually unable to be tapped. Fiber cable has a smaller diameter and weighs less than its copper counterpart, making it ideal for a variety of cabling solutions. Fiber optics has always been the preferred choice for the backbone cabling in buildings and campuses. Fiber optic cables costs less to maintain. Fiber optic data cabling offers a greater signal capacity. It is smaller than copper cabling and is also impervious to interference with a much lower transmission loss.

Copper is restricted for installations within 100 m. Copper is prone to get affected due to EMI resulting in data loss. Installation of copper cable is much simpler and easier as compared to fiber cables. Increase in copper prices is always a concern. Customers plan their budgets and execution of building a project could take an year, and so significant changes in the cable cost can upset the planned budget. Copper has almost doubled over the past 1 year. Copper cabling standards are designated as Category 5e, Category 6, Augmented Category 6, Category 7, Class D, Class E and, Class F and FA.

Malini N
malinin@cybermedia.co.in