Fiber optic cabling is an integral part of our global network, and it is recognized by many as one of the cleanest and fastest wide-area networks (WAN) available. In the past, fiber optic cabling was commonly used in local area networks (LAN) and internet connectivity, but recently fiber has gained a substantial amount of traction for wide-area networking. While you may have viewed the hype surrounding fiber optic cabling as a marketing gimmick, it can actually offer the highest capacity of any production network connection.
As the leading provider of voice and data cabling for businesses in New Jersey, Network Drops has seen a shift among companies looking to improve their internet connection speeds. Companies across the country have opted to connect to the internet via fiber optics rather than T1s, DSL, or coax. While fiber optics are not set to replace all of our connection options anytime soon, the technology is evolving in a manner that can drastically improve the way we connect with the world.
Australian Research
Research based out of Australia RMIT University suggests that fiber optics could make the internet 100 times faster. Researchers say that by twisting the light that passes through fiber optic cables like a strand of DNA, they can increase the transmission speeds of valuable data by orders of magnitude. While Australia seems optimistic about these recent developments, some question how well devices on either end of this high-speed fiber cable can handle the increase in transmission speeds.
Seismology Implications
Earlier this year, scientists have found evidence that our underwater fiber networks may be suitable for more than just fostering digital communications between continents. Reports show that the global network of seafloor fiber optic cables could serve as a way to detect earthquakes. By injecting one end of the fiber optic cable with light from a laser and monitoring the lights that exit the other end, researchers can detect seismic wave rattles as they will distort the laser light traveling through the cables.
Urban Developments
San Francisco made headlines earlier this year due to the city’s pledge to transform itself into an internet utopia. The city plans to be the first in the country to connect every single home and business in its metropolitan area to a municipal fiber-optic network. This huge commitment would mean that internet access in the city would be a public utility similarly to electricity or water. If the project were to succeed, it could have huge implications on how we as a country connect to the internet.
If you are interested in learning more about the evolution of fiber optic cabling can benefit your business or need structured wiring in New Jersey, please call Network Drops today at 609-551-9763.