A fiber optic cable consists of a bundle of glass threads, each of which is capable of transmitting messages modulated onto light waves.

A fiber optic cable consists of a bundle of glass threads, each of which is capable of transmitting messages modulated onto light waves. It is a technology that uses glass (or plastic) threads (fibers) to transmit data.

Fiber optics has several advantages over traditional metal communications lines:

• Data can be transmitted digitally (the natural form for computer data) rather than analogically.
• Fiber optic cables have a much greater bandwidth than metal cables. This means that they can carry more data.
• Fiber optic cables are less susceptible than metal cables to interference.
• Fiber optic cables are much thinner and lighter than metal wires.

The main disadvantage of fiber optic cables are expensive to install. In addition, they are more fragile than wire and are difficult to split.

Fiber optics is a particularly popular technology for wiring high definition devices that are located in a closet of home theater room far away. In addition, telephone companies are steadily replacing traditional telephone lines with fiber optic cables. In the future, almost all communications will employ fiber optics.