Introduction
We always turn to optical fibres when it comes to meeting our high bandwidth networking needs. In general, not many people are aware of the existence of plastic optical fibre. Glass fibre and plastic fibre both have their own benefits and drawbacks. We are going to provide you some important information in this regard today.
Benefits of Glass Optical Fibre
Glass optical fibre is an excellent alternative for a wide range of applications and networking needs. We don't need to worry about the supply of glass because it is one of the most prevalent, naturally occurring elements. As a result of the widespread adoption of networking through glass optical fibre, you may readily find the parts and components you need for your individual demands and applications. Additionally, there are several varieties of glass optical fibre cables with various data-carrying capacities available. Going with glass optical fibre has the added benefit of its propensity to tolerate challenging working conditions. Unlike plastic, optical fibre cabling is simple to install close to a furnace or other heat-emitting device. Glass is a great material for long-distance applications since it naturally transmits light. Additionally, glass optical fibre can operate with both visible and infrared light. Glass fibre optic is suited for extremely low-temperature environments as well.
Benefits of Plastic Optical Fibre
Plastic optical fibre is unrivaled in terms of price and flexibility. Optical cables made with a plastic core and cladding are far more affordable than cables made with a glass core and cladding. Today, a wide variety of accessories, connectors, and other parts for plastic optical fibres are freely accessible on the market. So, there is no problem with part availability or scalability. Plastic optical fibre is a far safer alternative in terms of safety because it employs harmless, visible-to-the-untrained-eye red or green light. Plastic optical fibre's greater propensity to tolerate bending, vibration, and shock is another fantastic advantage. The plastic optical fibre can be handled and installed without the need for specialized knowledge, equipment, or methods. A plastic optical fibre cable can be cut with a regular pair of scissors, and it will work again after being plugged in.
Conclusion
Two excellent networking solutions include glass optical fibre and plastic optical fibre. On the one side, we have less expensive, more manageable plastic optical fibre. However, it cannot be used for long-distance applications.For connecting over short distances, plastic optical fibre is an excellent option. On the other hand, we also have tried-and-true glass optical fibre. A universal solution, glass optical fibre can be used for both short- and long-range applications.
As a result, glass fibre cables should be taken into consideration when a long-distance, high-speed connection is required, as plastic optical fibre can only support bit rates of up to 10 Gbps.