Is Cat6 Cable Better Than Cat5e?

 Should Cat6 Cabling Replace Cat5e?

Computer networks are an essential part of modern life, but for a network to be effective it needs to transfer data at high speeds. Achieving this is made possible with data cables. However, you need to have the correct cables in place. The traditional data cabling used was Cat 5, along with its enhanced successor Cat 5e. However, Cat 6 cabling has also been available for some time and represents one of the most popular and efficient data cabling solutions.

What is Cat6?

Cat 6 cabling uses four pairs of twisted copper cables and is specifically designed to be used in computer networks that utilize ethernet technology. Capable of operating at bandwidths reaching 250MHz, it’s also capable of transmitting data at high speeds. At distances of up to 100m, Cat 6 cables can move data at speeds of 1 Gbps. However, if this distance is lowered to 55m, a Cat 6 cable can increase this speed to 10 Gbps. Cat 6 cabling is also highly resistant to electrical interference, and this ensures data cabling Westminster quality is less likely to be compromised.

What Are the Benefits of Cat6?

If you are considering whether Cat 6 cabling should replace Cat5e it’s essential you understand all of its benefits:

Backward compatible: Cat 6 cabling was created as the successor to Cat 5 cabling and was designed to be backward compatible. Therefore, if your existing computer network is running on a Cat 5e-based infrastructure, it’s much easier to implement Cat 6 cabling gradually. This will not only reduce network downtime during installation but also allow you to invest in new cabling over a longer period.

Higher quality cables: the construction of Cat 6 cables means they are more tightly wound than Cat 5 cables, as well as feature thicker sheaths and cable conductors. These benefits combine to produce a cable that is both physically stronger and more efficient in terms of electrical performance.

Enhanced network performance: making the step up to Cat 6 IT cabling canary wharf will provide your computer network with a significant boost in performance. Files can be sent and received much quicker, so you will become more productive and competitive.

What are the categories of cable?

As well as Cat 6 cables, there are a number of options available for your network needs:

Cat 5: this type of cable also uses twisted pair copper cables but is unshielded. With a top performance rated at 100Mhz and distances of 100m covered, Cat 5 cables transmit data at speeds of up to 100MBps. An enhanced version, known as Cat 5e, is also available and can transfer data at a speed of 1Gbps.

Fiber optic: using glass fibers that carry light signals, fiber optic cables can send data over distances of 10km with speeds that can vary from 10Gbps to 100Gbps. The most modern data cable solution, fiber optic is also the most expensive option.

Cat 5e or Cat 6?

If you find your existing cables are failing and you need to replace Cat5e to keep pace with the demands of your network, then it’s likely that upgrading to Cat 6 cables will provide the speed and efficiency you need. If, however, your Cat 5e network allows you to remain productive, then an upgrade to Cat 6 cabling will represent an unnecessary investment.

Original Source: Is Cat6 Cable Better Than Cat5e?

Pre-Terminated Data Cabling

 A reliable and fast data cabling solution is crucial to maintaining your business productivity. Businesses such as data centres, storage area networks, and server farms can not afford the large amount of downtime or disruptions that come with unterminated data cabling. As a solution, these companies will benefit from a pre-terminated data cabling Watford solution. A pre-terminated solution can be defined as a ‘plug and play system. This solution will eliminate the need for onsite termination and testing. Furthermore, its an evolution from the traditional installation method. With a pre-terminated solution, the system will arrive on-site pre-tested and labelled.

Benefits of Pre-terminated data cabling

1. Reduce installation cost and time by up to 50%. This includes Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, single-mode and multi-mode
2. To future-proof your business, you must invest in a structured cabling system that meets the demands of your business operations. In addition, the system must allow for future growth. However, the performance of your system is not the only factor to be taken into consideration. The majority of mission-critical installations are carried out ‘out of hours' to decrease network downtime and disruption to your business activities. NM Cabling’s installation team can offer a pre-terminated solution to reduce business interruption.
3. Pre-terminated data cabling is very beneficial when time on site is at an absolute premium. For instance, in a new build such as data centres.
4. Live sites that require additional cabling, but the cost and implication of downtime can be detrimental can benefit from pre-terminated data cabling Westminster. For example, trading floors or call centres. These types of premises may wish to have their cabling completed in a single overnight operation.
5.  NM Cabling’s pre-terminated cables bring to the market end to end manufacturer tested and guaranteed cabling products that adhere to the latest IEEE 802.3 specifications, facilitating the deployment and maintenance of 10GB ethernet capable networks.
6. Our Latest pre-connected cabling solution allows for a faster, more reliable and risk-averse method of installation. Avoiding downtime and business interruption is critical when bringing new client revenue streams. This solution is very beneficial.

Further Benefits of Pre-terminated Data Cabling 

1. A Pre-terminated solution means no risk of potential on-site termination problems.
2. Reduce human resource requirement
3. Quality terminations, fully labelled, tested and provided with test documents.
4. Reduce disruption for your clients.
5. Maintain your security with fewer personnel on-site.
6. Increase productivity.
7. Simplified project management.
8. Increased deployment speed.
9. Easier material management on site.
10. Requires minimum on-site storage

Original Source: Pre-Terminated Data Cabling

What Are The Main Data Cable Categories And What Is The Difference?

 Understanding Data Cable Categories

Telecommunications and data transfer are two of the most elements of modern business. Without the correct handling of these two aspects, it’s going to be a struggle to be competitive in the business landscape. Thankfully, you can minimize this struggle by working with the best cables for the job. But there are a lot of cables available on the market. How exactly do you know which one is best? And what are the differences between data cables and phone cables? Understanding the answers to these key questions is the only way to succeed.

What are the Main Data Cable Categories? 

Cabling comes in a variety of specifications, lengths, and even colors. Whilst the color of your cabling is far from important, it’s crucial that you understand what the main categories are and their capabilities. The most common type of cabling used in a business is data cabling Watford, and it can be found holding IT infrastructures and IP phone networks together. The most common forms of data cabling are:

Cat 5: using twisted-pair copper cables, Cat 5 cabling is unshielded and delivers a bandwidth of up to 100MHz. The distance covered by Cat 5 cables can reach up to 100m and, over this distance, data signals can be carried at speeds of between 10Mbps to 100Mbps. There is also an enhanced version of Cat 5 – known as Cat 5e – which is capable of speeds around 1Gbps.

Cat 6: a more modern take on Cat 5 cabling, Cat 6 also utilizes twisted pair cabling but at bandwidths reaching 250MHz. It should also be expected to deliver data signals at much higher speeds, up to 10Gbps over a distance of 55m – although it must be noted, that this speed will drop accordingly over long distances. Nonetheless, Cat 6 cabling also brings more stable connections thanks to the lack of interference on offer.

Fibre Optic Cable: these network cables use glass fibres - contained inside an insulated sleeve – to transfer data across long distances at high speed. And, by long distances, you should expect to find distances of 10km being able to handle speeds of between 10Gbps to 100Gbps. 

How do data cable and phone cable differ? 

Telephone Cable: whilst telephone cables look similar to Cat 5 and Cat 6 cables, they’re noticeably different. This difference can be identified by the end of the cable which, for phone cabling, is smaller and flatter than a Cat 5/6 cable. Telephone cables, much like data cables, can also carry data alongside sound, but the maximum speed you can expect to find is around 10 Mbps. 

Is Data Cable the Same as the Ethernet cable? 

It's also important to be able to differentiate between data cables and ethernet cables as these terms are often used interchangeably. As a rule, a data cabling Westminster cable is any cable that facilitates the transfer of data e.g. a fiber optic cable, a twisted pair cable, or a telephone cable. An ethernet cable, however, is one that is reserved for use in ethernet environments such as local area networks and wide area networks.

Choosing the Best Data Cables 

There is no ‘set solution’ when it comes to installing cabling that is correct for you and your business. Depending on your needs, the budget-friendly approach of telephone cables may be suitable for a small network. On the other hand, a large network that handles significant amounts of data would be better suited to working with fibre optics. Nonetheless, there’s a solution for every cabling project, and the right option will provide you with a boost in productivity.

Original Source: What Are The Main Data Cable Categories And What Is The Difference?

What Does a Data Centre Do?

 What is a data centre and how does it work? 

A Data Centre is a facility that houses network computers, storage systems and computing infrastructure.

We live in the age of big data, where the sheer volume of data processed on a day-to-day basis dwarfs anything that businesses have been involved with in the past. As a result, this 'big data needs to be handled correctly.

It is, after all, crucial that you can analyse all of your data, at all times. Establishing such efficient data handling will not only allow your business to remain productive but also provide an edge over your competition. And the best way to handle this data is with a data centre.

What is a Data Centre?

It's important that your IT infrastructure is equipped to handle and process your data. The demands of the modern age mean that you constantly need your data to be available. Traditional solutions, such as hard drives and physical storage mediums, simply aren't able to cope with the amount of data being processed in the 21st century. And it was this problem that led to the development of data cabling Westminster centres.

A data centre is, in its simplest form, a facility used to centralise an organisation's IT infrastructure and provide data storage. This setup typically enhances a company's ability to maintain data continuity, provide backup power support and deliver an environment that ensures IT equipment runs at its optimum efficiency. These data centres can be based onsite or remotely through a number of different options. 

What Types of Data Centres Are There? 

Every business is unique and, accordingly, has different needs when it comes to IT and data processing. Therefore, a number of different data centre models have evolved as IT has advanced. The four main types of the data centre are: 

Enterprise: one of the most common data centres, enterprise solutions are based on-site; it's a type of data centre that provides a wide range of benefits to the end-user. Performance is enhanced as the equipment is located so close to the business, scalability can easily be analysed and implemented whilst security is high as the owner can directly monitor the data centre

Colocation Facilities: these data cabling Watford solutions are provided by external businesses that rent dedicated data processing space to numerous organisations. As well as providing valuable real estate, these colocation facilities also offer 24-hour maintenance and security services to provide customers with peace of mind. Although smaller colocation facilities will only provide racks as part of their service, large facilities are able to provide entire data centre units.

Edge: not all businesses have room for a dedicated on-site data centre, but neither are they willing to compromise on performance. Therefore, edge data centres provide a fine compromise. Located close to their user base, edge data centres are classed as being at the 'edge' of customers' networks. This close proximity reduces latency and gives increased performance in an organization's data processing.

Cloud: establishing themselves as a major force in data handling, cloud data centres have risen to prominence over the last 15 years. Using the remote model, cloud data centres allow you to access your data through the internet and run your applications through a virtual infrastructure. These platforms are provided by third party providers including Microsoft Azure, IBM Cloud and Amazon Web Services.

For more information on data centres and advice on which type is right for your business, don’t hesitate to get in touch and speak to our expert team.

Original Source: What Does a Data Centre Do?

Electrical Installer for Technology

 Adding power to your data

Our current world is highly driven by data, we can often simply overlook the importance of electrical installation when moving or upgrading our commercial space. Furthermore, when relocating you may become so concerned with data cabling Watford that you forget to consider electrical cabling in your budget and installation plans. You must consider an electrical installer when relocating. After all, without power, data cabling will not function. 

How can an electrical installer help me? 

Improve electrical efficiency, this will lower your electrical bills

Improved designs which will increase the safety of your building

Increase protection against power outages.

Prevent power surges. This will protect the expensive technology used by your business.

How do I prepare for an electrical installation? 

Design for flexibility 

The advancement of technology has heavily influenced the ways of the work world. For instance, employees are now able to work remotely, or in a collaborative manner. Break-out rooms, meeting areas, and open-plan offices are now part of the modern-day office design. For this reason, it’s important to ensure you have electrical power sockets in multiple areas throughout your office. Lastly, you must plan to have outlets in communal meeting spaces as well as standard and hot desks. This will allow your premises to remain flexible.

Allow for extra capacity 

Technology has changed the way we work. In most cases, employees will have more than just a desktop computer on their desks. Some may have, phones, laptops, and tablets. All this equipment requires electricity to work. Therefore, we recommend a minimum of 4 electrical sockets for each desk, in some cases, you may need to increase to 6 or 8.

Floor boxes or grommets

Floor boxes are more difficult to place, it can be tricky for the engineer to cut the floor tiles close enough to the edges. In addition, a floor box placed in an open area will allow the data cabling Westminster to be kept away beneath the floor until it's being used.

Grommets can be a much more precise way to place a cable. The cables can be installed in a precise desk location and in the floor. On the other hand, with a grommet, the cables are not concealed as they are with a floorbox. Alternatively, the cables go from the floor to the desk, which doesn’t make them the most suitable solution in all cases.

Focus on special requirements

Not all electrical installations are created equal. Some office spaces might have special electrical requirements and needs. High traffics areas might require high-powered equipment to handle the electrical needs. Rooms such as common rooms or meeting rooms are classed as ‘high traffic areas’. Focusing on these areas will ensure your electricity is efficient and safe

Future proof 

Technology is not the same as it was 10 years ago, with new inventions delivered at a high rate, your business must be ready to progress with the time if you wish to stay relevant. Leaving room for expansion in your current building will allow your company to grow without having to relocate. Furthermore, having additional power sockets and floor boxes will give you the freedom to add more desks should your company expand.

Back-Up power

Although, you may have followed a professional’s advice throughout the installation of your premises. An electrical installer cannot guarantee your premises will not suffer from a random power outage, surge, or any other electrical faults. Installing a UPS system will further protect your business in an event of a power outage.

Original Source: Electrical Installer for Technology

Computer Cabling Services

 NM Cabling is here to assist you in protecting your computer technology. We can help to increase data transfer speeds, ensure efficient communications within your commercial building, and protect data integrity. To protect your investment in computer technology, your computer cabling must be correctly installed, tested, and maintained by an experienced company with the ability to prioritize your requirements.

Computer cabling services

Computer cabling is a term widely used to describe all types of data cabling Westminster associated with computers and data transfer. For instance, Ethernet cabling, internet, and various types of telecommunications and networking. At NM Cabling we install and maintain all the leading types of computer cabling to provide a broad networking solution that will keep your data flowing and guarantee you peace of mind while you operate your business.

Computer data cables form local area networks (LANs) between computers in the same area. Thus, allowing them to directly communicate and share data with each other. Ethernet Network is a platform on which LANs are hosted. In addition, this is only possible when the data cabling is installed carefully and correctly.

Did you know – 50% of downtime experienced by companies is directly attributed to bad cables or poor installation.

Computer cabling functions 

All computer cables have common functions and traits. The cables create physical connections between ports through which data can be transferred electronically. Furthermore, the purpose of a computer cable is to transfer data, which can then serve multiple functions. 

Have you ever wondered how the internet work? This is made possible by using specific computer cables which connect computers and servers around the world. Even wireless internet is dependent on data cables. The wireless router must be physically connected to the internet via a data cable before it can broadcast the wireless signal.

Development of computer cabling 

Telegraph lines we used to facilitate telecommunications. Alexander Graham Bell used them to make the first telephone call. The telegraph lines transferred data through copper wire and utilised single- wire earth return circuits. In the 1880s these circuits were replaced with balanced circuits. 

With the popularity of the telephone increasing, interference between the copper wires started to become an issue. As a result, this led to the invention of twisted pair cables. Twisted pair is when copper wires are twisted around each other. Furthermore, each pair has a unique twist rate, this is to prevent signals from getting mixed. This technology is still in use today. The advancement of technology has allowed these cables to become faster and capable of spanning long distances. However, the original premise behind twisted pair cables has not changed.

As technology advances, computer cabling progresses with the changes. The most recent invention is fibre optic cables. These cables are widely recognised as a superior alternative to copper. In addition, fibre optic cores are made of glass or plastic and carry rays of light over long distances. Fibre optic is extremely quick and immune to electromagnetic interference. 

Types of Computer cables

Cat3 Data Cable 

Chances are you’ve never heard of this cable before. Cat3 cables were popular in the 1990s but are hardly used today. The cable is a copper twisted pair that can transfer up to 10Mb/sec, the maximum bandwidth is 16MHZ. Generally, cat3 is used for VoIP phones. 

Cat5 and Cat5e Data Cables

Cat5 was the category before Cat5e, it’s a twisted pair cable. This cable is not widely used with today’s technology. However, Cat5e is still in use and its mainly used for Ethernet. The cable can transfer up to 1000Mb/sec with a bandwidth of up to 350MHz. 

Cat6 and Cat6a 

Category 6 and 6a are widely used by various companies due to the high performances they offer. The cables have a bandwidth of 250Mhz and 550Mhz. with transfers of up to 10Gbps. This cable is the go-to data cable for many business requirements.

Cat7 & Cat 8

These cables are not as popular as those above, due to their high performances the cables are more expensive in comparison.

Cat 7 – 600Mhz and up to 10Gbps

Cat8 – 2000Mhz and up to 40Gbps

Fibre Optic Data cables

Fibre optic is the latest development of computer cables. This cable allows data to be transferred through specifically engineered lengths of plastic or glass. The cable has a lot of advantages in comparison to copper cables. For example, speed, flexibility, reliability, and more. However, the advantages do come with a higher cost.

Installing computer cabling 

The installation of computer data cabling Watford should not be taken lightly. The process is very important for several reasons. For instance, a network can’t be functional if the cables are not installed correctly. Additionally, failure to correctly mark wires will cause issues when fault finding, potentially costing your business more money to hire an engineer for long periods of time. Call our highly experienced team at NM Cabling for all your computer cabling queries. Our engineers adhere to international and European standards. 

Original Source: Computer Cabling Services 

What are the VoIP Cabling Requirements When Installing a New Phone System?

 When planning for a new telephone system installation, the first consideration should be on the infrastructure. Therefore, what data cabling do I currently have, or what are the VoIP cabling requirements that I will need.

VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol is simply the transmission of voice communication over a data network, such as the internet. 

With a new installation, this is straightforward. Thus, you can have a new cabling design and installation to suit the new VoIP phone system. However, with existing data cabling there can be confusion.

In this case, there may be existing cabling, but it’s not suitable for several reasons. 

1. The existing data cabling is a legacy phone cable (Such as BT) and not suitable for data transmission.

2. There is existing data cabling, but its quality of installation is not suitable for VoIP. (VoIP requires a quality of service)

3. There are not enough ports for the required telephones.

4. The structured cabling is not centralized and therefore unable to be controlled by the new phone switches. 

In brief, where these situations are present, a new data cabling installation or upgrade is required. 

What should I plan for VoIP cabling requirements? 

VoIP telephones require a data cable to each phone that originates from a data cabinet with access to a data switch. To this end, the telephone switch hardware is installed in the data cabinets throughout a building, and the phones can be wired to any switch as long as they are linked.

The data cabling can be any category of cabling from Cat5e to above. Cat5e and Cat6a are the standard choices for 1-gigabit transmission speeds. Furthermore, the 10-gigabit transmission starts with Cat6a and above. However, 1-gigabit is more than adequate for VoIP transmission.

The IT cabling Canary Wharf installation has to be at a professional level. VoIP requires a quality of service (QoS) to enable uninterrupted call quality. Indeed, unlike WiFi or PC data transmission, VoIP will result in poor quality or dropouts with poorly installed data cabling. With the PCs, it might just result in a slow loading or drop out of a hardly noticeable web page. However, with a phone, it can be an echo, buzzing, or loss of call. In short, all very frustrating and potentially costly if losing potential customers.

You may have existing cabling and not be sure if it's suitable for VoIP. 

Elements of a suitable data cabling installation for VoIP 

For the most part, the following elements should all be part of a cabling installation for VoIP.

A minimum of Cat5e with Cat6 and Cat6a preferred if scaling for higher speeds.

Installed with a well-known cabling brand

Many installations are undertaken with generic cheaper cabling systems, and these cause failure over time.

Installed onto Patch Panels inside a designated cabinet or set of cabinets

Avoid having the ends of cabling terminated onto plugs and plugged straight into switches. These fail over time

Terminated into designated outlet boxes

A dedicated cable for each telephone

Installed in correct containment and away from electrical cabling and interference

Electrical interference will cause noise and dropouts on the calls

Tested with a Fluke DSX or similar, and full test results supplied.

Without these, you will not know if the cabling is at the required standard and suitable for VoIP use.

The elements above should all be part of any data cabling installation. However, in many 

Evaluating existing structured cabling 

When you have existing data cabling Watford in place, there are similar checks you can put in place to check suitability. In this case, you would want to ensure the following

Check that there is enough cabling for each of your new phones.

Ensure that the existing cabling is Cat5e or above

Test your existing cabling with a Fluke DSX or similar 

The test results will show if the existing cabling passes to the required standard for all data transmission. With any failure, the cabling will need to be replaced to ensure good telephone performance.

Original Source: VoIP Cabling Requirements 

Voice and Data Cabling in Digital Communication

 

What is voice and data communication?

The modern business landscape demands innovation and that is exactly what digital communication provides. But it’s crucial that you have the correct data systems and upgrades in place. And, as we start returning to offices following Covid-19, we are going to rely on digital communications more than ever before. Therefore, it’s the perfect time to get to grips with voice and data cabling Westminster systems and plan for the future. 

The Importance of VoIP Systems

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has been one of the most important developments in digital communication systems. Traditionally, voice communications were transmitted along phone lines and through circuit-switched networks. But VoIP updates this model for the 21 century. By digitizing analog voice signals, VoIP is able to package these as digital ‘packets’ which can be transmitted over the internet. This transmission can be facilitated by both WiFi and mobile networks making it highly flexible in terms of usage. And, as all it requires is an internet connection, VoIP is significantly cheaper than hardware-heavy landline systems.

What is the difference between voice and data?

The major difference between voice and data traffic is that data stream packets generally do not have to arrive in sequence and can be re-sent if they are dropped. In voice, communication, the whole message must travel as one continuous package since it only makes sense in a contiguous stream. Communication is the key to success in business, but how can you enhance it? The answer lies within data cabling. These cables – which include Cat5, Cat6, and fibre – are used to transmit digital signals from point A to point B. It’s a simple concept, but one which can make a huge difference to the speed and quality of your communications. Modern developments in cabling have strengthened this even further with structured cabling, a network cabling London that supports multiple devices and minimizes complexity. Maintenance concerns are reduced and cost savings will soon mount up. These savings can then be invested in other areas of the business to foster further growth. 

Data Networks Changing Landscape

The business landscape, post-COVID-19, is going to look very different. For one thing, the need for social distance and reduce face-to-face meetings is going to radically change the way we communicate. These changes could manifest themselves in the form of telephone moves as you reposition workstations and installation of new power points. 

More importantly, however, is the impact of sta numbers. The economic hit of Covid-19 means that sta numbers are likely to fall in many businesses. But this will not be forever. Your business will, in time, start to experience growth. And, to take advantage of this growth and remain competitive, you need to respond quickly. That’s why refurbing your office now is the perfect opportunity to strengthen your future with scalability. As you take more people on, you will need to guarantee they can utilize world-class communications immediately to drive your business onwards. 

Voice & Data Final Thoughts

Digital communications provide the heartbeat of all businesses in the modern age. Accordingly, you need to ensure that your company embraces the services that are available. By installing VoIP systems and underpinning this with structured cabling you can get a head-start on your competition. Not only will this combination provide you with cutting edge communications, but it will also allow you to future proof your business. 

Original Source: Voice and Data Cabling in Digital Communication

Advantages of Fibre Optic Cable

In the majority of structured cabling installations, there will always be a copper data cabling element. Furthermore, in the majority of installations, there will also be a fibre cabling requirements. In addition, there are cases where a choice needs to be made whether to install an element as fibre or copper. For example with backbones and links to elements further away from the nearest data switch. There are certain advantages of fibre optic cable that make it the preferred choice in certain situations

What is Fibre Optic Cable

Fibre cable is constructured of multiple strands of glass or plastic which are then cladded. Each cable contains multiple cores and always in even numbers for transmission and receiving. These cores are then wrapped in a protective casing. Finally the cables is completed with an outer jacket.

Transmission down the cable is via pulses of light. These are converted from electricity are either end by media converters. Thus they differ from copper cables in that copper using electricity only to send signals. A further article comparing copper and fibre cables can be found HERE

What are the types of Fibre Optic Cables

Fibre optic cabling London are designated as either

1.        Singlemode Fibre

2.        Multimode Fibre

 The cable types are then further categorised as

Singlemode – OS1, OS2

Multimode – OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4, OM5

The different categories signify the transmission capabilities of the cables. Thus as technology designs a newer, faster and better cable type it is rati ed to a certain standard and therefore given a category.

8 Advantages of Fibre Optic Cable

The following are some of the advantages of fibre optic cable

1/ Ability for Longer Distances

Copper cables have a regulation limit of 100m for transmission. Multi mode cables can transmit the same speeds over several hundred metres and singlemode over several kilometres. Therefore in situations where connectivity is required over long distances fibre cable is the cable of choice

2/ Faster Speeds

Due to having cores that use light for transmission, fibre cables are able to transmit data art much faster speeds than their copper equivalent. There is also less loss and corruption to the transmission.

3/ Less interference from outside elements

Copper cables have the disadvantage that signals from other cables and outside influences such as power cables, lights, and noise corrupt their signal. This results in lost signal and data. However, as fibre uses light for transmission it doesn’t have the same problem of interference as light isn’t influenced by these factors

4/ Increased Bandwidth

In a like for like size of cable, the ber cable will carry a greater bandwidth compared to the copper equivalent. Furthermore, singlemode will have twice the throughput of multimode cables

5/ Smaller cable size

The actual cores of the fiber cables are small and the majority of the cable size is due to the protective sheath and coating. Therefore as core sizes increase the cable doesn’t increase din overall size as much. For example the difference in size between a 4 core and 8 c ore ber cable is far from double the size. However with copper cables you need 1 cable per link so it's always double the size.

For example for a 24 way link you would need 24 copper cables or one single 48 core ber. Furthermore the 48 core ber cable would be the same size as one Cat6a cable

6/ Sturdier cable construction.

The fibre cable is wrapped in a Kevlar coating. Although the inner cores are very fragile the overall cable is very strong. It is able to be installed and takes alot more to damage it than a copper cable. Any slight damage to a copper cable usually renders it unsuitable for use.

7/ Scalability for future technology.

As with all technology there is a shelf life where certain fibre cable categories are not suitable for certain applications. However their suitability lasts a lot longer than copper equivalents. As fibre components have changed (i.e the termination type) there has always been a simple solution such as a bespoke patch lead to change the connection from panel to switch. Furthermore as technology grows the newer media converters are able to send more information down existing fibre.

8/ Future cost savings

As previously mentioned optical cables don’t increase in size much as there cores increase. Therefore neither does the cost. Thus doubling the core size doesn’t double the cost of data cabling Westminster as it would with copper.

In this instance future considerations can be installed during initial project times and be in place. For example 8 cores are only currently required but a 24 core cable is installed to allow for future growth. The cost increase is small compared to it almost tripling with copper links.

Original Source: Advantages of Fibre Optic Cable