A fiber optic
connection is one type of broadband transmission technology that may be
used to provide high-speed Internet access to some consumers.
Fiber
optics (optical fibers) are long, thin transparent fibers of glass or
plastic about the diameter of a human hair and arranged in bundles called
optical cables. They are enclosed by material in which Light-Emitting
Diodes (LEDs) send light through the fiber to a detector that turns the
light into an electrical signal. They are used to transmit light signals
over long distances.
New equipment and techniques are making it
feasible to add fiber to the home at a lower cost than ever before. In
fact, installation costs for fiber are almost equal to costs to install
copper. While costs can vary, fiber-to-the-home installations average
$2,100. Once the fiber connection is made, however, providers can offer
communications packages that include phone, digital and basic cable TV,
video-on-demand, pay-per-view services and high speed Internet
access.
Optical fiber is lightweight, flexible, and the connection
is extremely fast; however its availability and use are limited at this
time. |
