The primary benefit of fiber optics is its bandwidth capacity. Optical signals have a much greater capacity for information than electrical signals. Scocco (2006) notes that the most advanced copper cables can only carry 1 GB/second. Optical fibers can theoretically carry 350 TB/second (350,000 GB/second). Even though this is a theoretical number, currently telecom carriers are already packing more than 1 TB/second, with a single optical fiber. Currently, using DSL technology, the twisted copper pair is use today can only transmit approximately 50 MB/second. In addition, signal reliability is significantly greater with fiber optics. Lastly, the size and weight of fiber optics is a fraction of that of coaxial cables. Yet, despite these benefits, there are disadvantages to fiber optical cables for communication as well. Cost is perhaps the largest disadvantage to the use of fiber optics, according to Scocco (2006). Although the amount of traffic on a telecom carrier's backbone justifies the economic investment of fiber optic, running fiber optics to each subscriber's home is still a financial concern. There are also the physical properties of the optical fibers that are a disadvantage at times. Copper cabling is far more flexible than optical fibers. If optical fibers are bent too much, they lose some of their reflective properties. Repair, due to the differences in physical properties, too is not only much simpler with copper wiring but also much less expensive, when compared to optical fibers.

Conclusion

Many people were involved in the technological advancements that have brought the technology to today's abilities. Although fiber optics is continuing to increase in popularity, there are distinct advantages and disadvantages to its use for communication and data transfer. Fiber optics allows for greater capacity. It has enhanced signal reliability. Fiber optics also is considerably smaller in size and weight than its copper counterparts. Disadvantages though include cost, its relative inflexibility and the difficulty and expense in repairs, when compared to copper wiring. However, as the technology continues to improve, and costs continue to lower, it is only a matter of time before most of the telecommunications infrastructure is replaced with fiber optics.
References

Fibre optics. (2009). In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved December 6, 2009, from Encyclopaedia Britannica Online: http://www.search.eb.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/eb/article-9034170

Hayes, J. (2005). Fiber optics technician's manual. Forence, KY: Thomson Delmar Learning.

Laser. (2009). In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved December 6, 2009, from Encyclopaedia Britannica Online: http://www.search.eb.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/eb/article-256345

Scocco, D. (21 Jul 2006). The pros and cons of fiber optics. Retrieved December 5, 2009, from http://innovationzen.com/blog/2006/07/21/the-pros-and-cons-of-fiber-optics/.