[UgaBYTES] Fibre Optic systems made simple

[Cleopa Timon Otieno]

Hi Folks,

Tech savvies know very well what is at stake and already positioned
themselves or are in the process of doing so to fully utilize the bandwidth
capacity and opportunities that come with it. However for the benefit of
telecentre practitioners who may not necessarily be technical and are
wondering what to do or how to react, it is important to highlight some of
the benefits of the much talked about fibre optic cable. it may just open
some eyes somewhere.

Why are fibre optic systems revolutionizing telecommunications?

Fibre optic communication is a method of transmitting information from one
place to another by sending pulses of light through an optical fibre. The
light forms an electromagnetic carrier wave that is modulated to carry
information.

Compared to conventional metal wire (copper wire), optical fibres in simple
terms are:

1.Less expensive – Several miles of optic cable can be made cheaper than
equivalent lengths of copper wire. This saves your provider (cable TV,
Internet) and your money.
2.Thinner – Optical fibres can be drawn to smaller diameters than copper
wire.
3.Higher carrying capacity – because optical fibres are thinner than copper
wires, more fibres can be bundled into a given-diameter cable than copper
wires. This allows more phone lines to go over the same cable or more
channels to come through the cable into your TV box.
4.Less signal degradation – the signal loss optical fibre is less than in
copper wire.
5.Light signals – unlike electrical signals in copper wires, light signals
from one fibre do not interfere with those of other fibres in the same
cable. This means clearer phone conversations or TV reception.
6.Low power – because signals in optical fibres degrade less, lower power
transmitters can be used instead of high voltage electrical transmitters
needed for copper wires. Again this saves your provider and you money.
7.Digital signals – optical fibres are ideally suited for carrying digital
information, which is especially useful in computer networks.
8.Non-flammable – because no electricity is passed through optical fibres,
there is no fire hazard.
9.Flexible – because fibre optics are so flexible and can transmit and
receive light, they are used in many flexible digital cameras for the
following purposes:-
-    Medical imaging – in bronchoscopes, endoscopes, laparoscopes.
-    Mechanical imaging – inspecting mechanical welds in pipes and engines
(in airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, cars)
-    Plumbing – to inspect sewer lines.

Regards.

-- 
Cleopa Timon Otieno
www.ugunja.org , www.kenyatelecentres.org
P.O.Box 330-40606, Ugunja
Cell: +254-720-950-220
skype: timonson1