Mumbai University > Electronics and telecommunication > Sem 7 > optical communication and networks

Marks: 05

Years: DEC 2012

1. Large Potential bandwidth: As the optical carrier frequency is in the range of $10^{12}$ to $10^{15}$ Hz it yields a far greater potential transmission bandwidth, than metallic cable systems. Therefore the information carrying capacity of optical fiber system is superior to the best copper cable system.

2. Small size and weight: Optical fiber have very small diameter which are often no greater than the diameter of human hair. Small size and light weight property of an optical fiber is somewhat advantageous in various applications like aircraft, satellites and even ships.

3. Electrical isolation: Optical fibers which are fabricated from glass or sometimes a plastic polymer are electrical insulator, they do not exhibit earth loop and interface problems. Hence no hazards of short circuit as in metal wires.

4. Immunity to interference and crosstalk: Optical fibers form a dielectric waveguides and are therefore free from electromagnetic interference (EMI), radio frequency (RF), etc. Hence the operation of an optical fiber communication system is unaffected by transmission through an electrically noisy environment and fiber cable requires no shielding from EMI.

5. Signal security: The light from optical fibers does not radiate significantly and therefore they provide a high degree of signal security:

6. Low transmission loss: Fibers have been fabricated with losses as low as 0.2dB/km and this feature has become a major advantage of optical fiber communication.

7. System reliability and ease of maintenance: The low loss property of optical fiber cable reduces the requirement for intermediate repeaters or line amplifiers to boost the transmitted signal strength. Hence with fewer repeaters the system reliability is greatly enhanced. High reliability reduces its expenditure on maintenance.

8. Ruggedness and Flexibility: Optical fibers have a very high tensile strength. The fibers may also be bent to quite small radii or twisted without damage.

9. Low cost and availability: The fibers are made from silica which is available in abundance. Hence there is no shortage of material and its cost is also less. So optical fiber offers a very low cost communication.