Optical Fiber

technology · light · communication

Light highways. Optical fibers are super thin strands of glass or plastic that guide light from one end to the other, kind of like a tunnel made specifically for light to travel through.

Carries information fast. Data and phone calls zoom along these fibers as pulses of light, getting from place to place way quicker and cleaner than electricity moving through regular copper wires.

No interference trouble. Because light travels inside the fiber instead of through the air, it doesn't get scrambled by radio waves, power lines, or other electromagnetic noise that can mess up regular cables.

Stronger signals last longer. Light signals can travel much farther through fiber before they fade out, so fewer repeater stations are needed to keep the signal strong across oceans and continents.

Internet backbone. Most of the world's high-speed internet and international phone calls travel through optical fiber cables running under the ocean and along the ground beneath our feet.