What advantage do fiber-optic communications offer?

Fiber-optic communications offer higher data transmission speeds primarily due to the nature of light signaling through glass or plastic fibers. Unlike traditional copper wiring, which can be limited by electrical interference and attenuation over distances, fiber optics allow signals to travel at the speed of light and over much longer distances without degradation. This high speed enables significantly greater bandwidth, which means more data can be transmitted simultaneously, making fiber-optic systems ideal for applications requiring rapid data exchange, such as streaming services, large-scale data transfers, and high-speed internet connections.

In addition to speed, fiber-optic cables are less prone to signal degradation compared to copper wires; they are not affected by electromagnetic interference, thus ensuring reliable and consistent performance. While fiber optics may present challenges in installation and costs compared to copper, their advantages in speed and data capacity are what make them increasingly favored for modern communication systems.