Southern Fibre

What is an Optic Fibre Network?
Optic fibre cables are used to carry data network traffic, just as traditional Ethernet cables do.  While Ethernet (Cat5, Cat6, etc.) uses electrical signals to carry data, fibre cables use pulses of light which are trapped inside a very small core of glass.  This is possible with the use of extremely clear glass, in which it has been said that if ocean water were as clear as fibre, one could see all the way to the bottom even of the Marianas Trench!

Where are optical fibre networks used?
Optic fibre networks are no longer just for large telecommunications companies.  They are increasingly being used within office buildings, in factory settings and between campus/office buildings.

Traditional copper Ethernet cables have a number of physical limitations which limit their maximum reach to around 100m.  Optic fibre cables don’t suffer from these limitations, so fibre links are typically used when longer distances are involved.  Also, since fibre cables are made of glass, not copper, they are not electrically conductive.  This makes them useful in situations susceptible to high electrical voltages, such as lightning strikes and around electrical services.  Some examples of where we have installed these links are:

• Within large buildings where cable runs are too long for copper
• Between office buildings in schools, clubs and other settings where lightning must be considered
• In pump stations and utility buildings where electrical isolation is required and cable distances are large

Unlike copper cables, which have a fixed bandwidth or speed, optical cables have no practical upper speed limit.  The network bandwidth depends only on the electronics at each end of the cable.  For example, undersea cables used to connect continents can run thousands of simultaneous phone calls.  This means that if you install a fibre link today, it will likely be upgradable and serviceable for at least 50 years into the future!