Millrose Datacom now offers fibre optic installation, termination (splicing), testing, fault finding and repair services.
Part funded by the Destination Digital scheme, our extensive training will allow Millrose Datacom to expand the range of services offered to business customers looking to improve their structured cabling networks and internet performance.
So what’s all the fuss about fibre? Here are the advantages of fibre over traditional copper cabling (punctuated with pictures of last week’s fibre optic training):
1. Greater bandwidth
Fibre cable provides far greater bandwidth than its copper counterpart. Fibre optic cable also can carries more information, with less energy loss, than copper wire. That’s why telephone, data and CATV companies are converting to fibre.
2. Less reduction of signal over great distances
Fibre optic signal is made of light and so very little signal loss occurs during transmission, meaning data can move at higher speeds and greater distances. Because fibre signals need less boosting along its journey than copper ones do, the cable performs better. With undersea cabling networks this is a huge advantage.
3. Better security
Fibre optic cable is far more secure. It doesn’t emit signals and is extremely difficult to tap undetected. If the cable is physically tapped, it’s very easy to detect because the cable leaks light, causing the entire system to fail. Even putting a bend in a fibre will result in network failure. If any attempt is made to break the physical security of your fibre network, you’ll soon know about it. This is a huge advantage for banks and other high security installations.
4. Resilience and reliability
Fibre optic cable are immune to electromagnetic interference (unlike copper cable), from sources such as radio signals, car iginition systems and lightning etc and so provides extremely reliable data transmission. They carry no electrical voltage, only light, so it can be routed next to industrial equipment, or through explosive or flammable atmospheres without worry. Fibre is also less susceptible to temperature fluctuations than copper and can be submerged in water.
5. Size and weight
Fibre is lightweight, thin, and more durable than copper cable. Its small size makes it easier to handle, it takes up much less space in underground cabling ducts and they are easier for installers to handle.
6. Price
Installation costs for fibre are higher than copper because of the skill needed for terminations. The fibre cable needs to be spotlessly cleaned, and as it is thinner than the diameter of a human hair, the splicing (joining) process is a complex one requiring specialist training. Overall, fibre is more expensive than copper in the short term, but it may actually be less expensive in the long run. Fibre typically costs less to maintain, has much less downtime, and requires less networking hardware as one fibre cable can carry more signals and give greater bandwidth or capacity than a single copper cable, and over a much longer distance.
