Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 1, 1993 TAG: 9307300107
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: F-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: TRENTON, N.J. LENGTH: Medium
Glass fibers have major advantages over copper cable, which have long carried telephone transmissions.
Greater capacity: Can simultaneously handle thousands of two-way voice, data and video transmissions at extremely high speeds, compared to hundreds of slower, one-way transmissions on copper.
Clearer transmissions: Immune to electromagnetic interference from lightning and radio signals that cause static and crosstalk. This eliminates errors in voice, data and video transmissions, such as garbled faxes.
Greater durability: Optic fiber is nonmetallic and does not conduct electricity, so it isn't subject to corrosion or decomposition from electrical current passing through it. It is not affected by water, or extreme heat or cold.
Easier installation and maintenance: A finger-width grouping of fiber cables replaces a fist-sized bundle of copper wires.
More reliable service: Needs fewer splices and points of signal regeneration along the cable route, which helps maintain high-quality transmissions. When a fiber optic cable is damaged, service is restored faster because workers don't have to splice each line, as with copper.
Digital technology also increases the network's capacity. Technology allows for better routing of transmissions and enough compression of the data to allow it to be sent over copper wire for short distances.
Because of this, utilities may not have to build the most expensive part of the national information highway - the connections between millions of homes and the digital switch at the curb or telephone pole where the initial installation of optic fiber will end.
by CNB