Optical fibers: advantages and disadvantages

Abstract

This article is about advantages and disadvantages of optical fibers in comparison to conventional metal wires and cables. An optical fiber is a glass or plastic fiber that carries light along its length. Its main use is in fiber-optic communication, but it has many other uses as well (i.e. sensors, fiber lasers etc.). Optical fibers allow signals to be transmitted over long distances with almost no data loss. They are also immune to most types of interference.